by Will DeBoer
In their first and only tuneup before the 2017 regular season, the Delmarva Shorebirds defeated the Salisbury University Seagulls 15-1 in a Tuesday night exhibition game at Arthur W. Perdue Stadium.
After falling behind 1-0 after two innings, the Shorebirds got the offense going in the bottom of the third. Alejandro Juvier led off with a double and went to third on an infield single by Irving Ortega. Ryan McKenna tied the game with a single, then after a Cole Billingsley infield hit loaded the bases, Preston Palmeiro lifted a flyball to center to bring home a run and make it 2-1. Chris Shaw then cracked a three-run homer to left center, followed by a Chris Clare triple and Jake Ring sac fly to make it a six-run third.
Delmarva followed with another six-spot in the fourth inning, highlighted by a Palmeiro RBI groundout, Collin Woody two-run single, and Ring three-run home run to right. Jerry McClanahan made it a three-homer night in the bottom of the fifth, scorching a solo shot down the left field line to make it 13-1.
Clare’s two-run single in the bottom of the sixth gave the game its final margin.
Ring led the way at the plate for the Shorebirds, going 1-for-2 with a home run and four RBIs. Clare had two hits, while McKenna and Ortega each scored two runs.
Cody Dube earned the win for the home side with a perfect third inning. Simon Palenchar took the loss for the Seagulls; he held Delmarva scoreless in the first two innings before failing to get an out in the third.
Jhon Peluffo started the game for the Shorebirds, allowing one run on two hits in two innings, walking none and striking out three. Nick Jobst, James Teague, Kory Groves, and Zeke McGranahan each tossed scoreless innings from the fourth through seventh.
Palenchar drove in the Seagulls’ only run with an RBI groundout in the top of the second, bringing home Jack Barry after a triple. Justin Meekins led off the game wiht a double, while Ryan Horseman and Ron Villone notched the other two hits for SU.
Tyler Hickey, Devin Conroy, Jack Cheney, and Ryan Gough also pitched for Salisbury.
