VIRGINIA BEACH -- A dominant pitcher in the first game and a timely hitter in the second game lifted No. 24 Salisbury University to a non-conference doubleheader sweep of the host Virginia Wesleyan College Marlins at Marlins Field.

Sophomore Rachel Johnson (Preston, Md./Colonel Richardson) limited the Marlins to just three singles in the opener, while striking out 14 batters.  She faced only 26 batters overall en route to leading the Sea Gulls (8-0) to a 4-0 victory.

In the second game it was senior Michelle Gravdahl (Ellicott City, Md./Long Reach) who blew open a 2-2 game with a three-run home run in the top of the sixth inning. It was enough to help Salisbury take the sweep with a 5-3 decision.

Virginia Wesleyan (8-4) had the opportunity to regain the lead in the bottom of the sixth with one run in and bases loaded.  But, the Marlins could not find the major hit to do damage.  JuniorSeason Dailey (Norfolk/Virginia Beach Frank W. Cox) singled with two outs to keep the Marlins alive, and rookie Courtney Bogan (Round Hill/Woodgrove) followed with a single.  A single by rookie Kayla Dost (Bristow/Nokesville Brentsville) sent in a run and the threat continued when rookie Taylor Galvin (Virginia Beach/Kempsville) patiently drew a walk. 

It was enough of a threat to force a pitching change and the Gulls send in Johnson, who handcuffed the Marlins in the opener.  She struck out the final batter of the sixth and prevented any other VWC uprising in the seventh by striking out the side.

Virginia Wesleyn led the second game 1-0 after two innings, helped by singles from Tori Higginbotham (Glen Allen/J.R. Tucker) andKristina Karagiorgis (Ashburn/Briar Woods), followed by a grounder from junior Lindsey Insana (Chesapeake/Grassfield) to score the run in the first inning.

After Salisbury tied the game in the top of the third, the Marlins jumped back in front in the bottom of the inning with a solo run.  Junior Andrea Shannon (Newville, Pa./Big Spring) led off the inning with single, moved to second on a Higginbotham single and scored on an Inzana sacrifice.

Salisbury once again tied the game, in the top of the fifth, kept the Marlins scoreless in the bottom of the inning, and then produced the game-deciding sixth.  The Gulls put Harley Hill (Huntingtown, Md./Huntingtown) on base via a walk and Sarah Alpaugh (Eldersburg, Md./Liberty) via an error, setting things up for Gravdahl's tie-breaking blast.

Virginia Wesleyan out-hit Salisbury 9-7 in the second game, led by Higginbotham, Karagiorgis and Shannon with two singles each.  Hannah Mills (Parksley, Va./Arcadia) , Angelia McDowell (Frederick, Md./Governor Thomas Johnson) and Alpaugh led SU with two hits each.

Kathryn Larson (Frederick, Md./Governor Thomas Johnson) improved to 4-0 as the pitcher, striking out eight, walking one and allowing nine hits and three earned runs.  Johnson picked up the save.

Junior Mackenzie Creech (Hillsborough, N.C./Orange) dropped to 3-2 for VWC.  She struck out two, walked five and gave up six hits and an earned run in 5.1 innings.  Rookie Mary Shipp (Virginia Beach/First Colonial) finished and struck out two.  She allowed just one hit.

Karagiorgis took the pitching loss for VWC in the opener, dropping to 3-2.  She struck out three batters, walked three and gave up 12 hits and four earned runs.

Junior Megan Zahnd (Chesapeake/Grassfield) ruined Johnson's bid at a no-hitter with a single in the bottom of the sixth inning.  Johnson struck out the first seven Marlins she faced, before Bogan made contact and popped the ball to the third baseman. 

Karagiorgis, Dost and Zahnd all singled for VWC in the opener.

Mills led Salisbury hitting with a single and a two-out, two-run home run in the bottom of the sixth that helped the Gulls plate a three-run inning for a 4-0 lead.  Virginia Wesleyan threatened in the bottom of the seventh with singles by Karagiorgis and Dost sandwiching a walk to Gavin to load the bases.  But, a fly out ended the threat, the inning and the game.

Virginia Wesleyan motors to Salisbury on Friday, March 8, to complete in the Sea Gull Invitational.  The Marlins will take on Frostburg State University (3-1) at 2 p.m. and New York's Geneseo State University (0-0) at 4 p.m. On Saturday, March 9, VWC will face Pennsylvania's Washington & Jefferson College at 2 p.m. and New York's Baruch College at 4 p.m.

--AMDG--