Brainer lights out as SU returns to championship round
YORK, Pa. - Salisbury University left-hander Bryan Brainer threw a complete game gem against the top-seed York (Pa.) College on Saturday morning as the No. 4 seed Sea Gulls blanked the Spartans 6-0 and advanced to Sunday's championship round. Brainer (7-2) struck out the side to start the game and settled into a fantastic groove where he only allowed five hits, issued four walks and struck out 12 in 138 pitches.

Salisbury (25-7) will face No. 2 seed University of Mary Washington tomorrow at Noon. SU, the defending conference champions, must be beaten twice to prevent the maroon and gold from hoisting a second straight CAC title and seventh overall.

The Sea Gulls got on the board in the bottom of the first on an unearned run and later added to that lead in the fourth inning when senior Alex Vitale blasted his fifth home run of the season to left field.

SU, ranked No. 9 nationally, broke open the game in the seventh inning as the Gulls chased York starter Tim Frisch (4-2), who allowed six runs (four earned) on 11 hits, one walk and struck out four. Mark Bostwick (2-for-4) and Hunter Wessells (2-for-5) each had a double in the four-run inning. Senior Colin Kraus singled home two runs and freshman Mike Celenza drove in the final run of the game.

The Eagles eliminated St. Mary's (Md.) College 11-7 on Saturday morning and then knocked the host Spartans, ranked No. 23 in the country, out of the tournament in the afternoon with an 11-1 victory. During the regular-season UMW swept Salisbury in a home-and-home series by a combined score of 17-10.