The Salisbury softball team secured a dramatic 3-2 nine-inning victory over St. Thomas (Minn.) on Sunday afternoon in Tyler, Texas, punching its ticket to the NCAA Championship series. 

The Sea Gulls will meet Tufts, an 8-0 winner over Wisconsin-Whitewater, in a best-for-three championship series, with game one set for Monday at 2 p.m. Click here for the full bracket. 

Game two of the championship series will follow game one, with the decisive third game set for Tuesday at noon, if necessary. 

This marks the third time the Sea Gulls have been a national finalist for a softball title, though they were unable to secure the championship in 2003 and 2005. Salisbury is seeking the first-ever softball national championship in Capital Athletic Conference history. 

Deadlocked at 2-2 in the top of the ninth inning, Kim Dorsey came through for the Sea Gulls with a two-out RBI single that scored Angela Malgieri from third base to give Salisbury a one-run edge. 

Salisbury pitcher Rachel Johnson, who worked the full 9.0 innings on the mound, then retired the side in order in the bottom of the ninth to give Salisbury the win. Johnson struck out seven while surrendering two runs, one earned, on eight hits in her nine innings of work. 

Paige Knussman posted two hits with two RBI to lead Salisbury at the plate, while Dorsey also tallied two hits and the game-winning RBI.