SALISBURY, Md. - Rachel Johnson totaled 15 strikeouts en route to a perfect game as 20th-ranked Salisbury held on to back-to-back one-run wins against the Stevenson softball team in a non-conference doubleheader Wednesday afternoon at the SU softball field.
The Mustangs (6-9) are winless against their old CAC rival in 31 total contests. Over the last four seasons, Stevenson has managed just seven runs on 25 hits in eight games. During that time however, the Mustangs have battled the Sea Gulls to four one-run games.
With just one combined hit between the two teams entering the bottom of the fourth inning, the Sea Gulls (20-1) totaled three hits, including an RBI double by Molly Simpson to put the hosts ahead. Salisbury was looking for a second run on the hit but a relay throw from left field forced the third out at the plate.
The lone run would be all the hosts needed as Johnson pitched the sixth perfect game of her career and second in seven innings. Johnson, who entered the week ranked third in Division III in strikeouts, is now 6-0 against Stevenson and has allowed just seven hits in 23.0 innings. She has also totaled 56 strikeouts and one save.
Salisbury would score an unearned run in the bottom of the first inning of game two before adding a third inning run to double its lead. Stevenson totaled three errors in the game, which led to two unearned runs.
The Mustangs totaled four hits in the fourth inning, including a two-run double by freshman Jasmyn Ogletree to tie the game at 2-2. After totaling six hits against Annah Brittingham, the Sea Gulls brought back Johnson who allowed just two hits over the final three innings.
With two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning, Salisbury's fourth batter of the inning reached on a fielding error which would have been the third and final out of the inning forcing extra innings. However, Caitlin Lake hit a walk-off single on the second pitch of the at bat to give the Sea Gulls their 17th-straight win.
Stevenson will play its second of three doubleheaders in four days when the Mustangs travel to Widener on Thursday, April 2 for a Commonwealth Conference matchup. First pitch is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.
