April 5, 2001

Box Score

Stony Brook, N.Y. - Stony Brook's Stephanie Poetzsch Throws No-Hitter Junior pitches near-perfect game in 2-0 win, goes the distance in 4-2 loss in eight innings

STONY BROOK, N.Y. -- Junior Stephanie Poetzsch's performance during the Seawolves' doubleheader with Rider on Thursday afternoon was nothing short of remarkable. In a 2-0 win in game one, Poetzsch threw a no-hitter, striking out 15, and returned to go the distance in the nightcap, a heart-breaking 4-2 loss in eight innings. The no-hitter was the first ever in Stony Brook history, while the 15 strikeouts are the most ever by a Seawolves pitcher.

Poetzsch fanned eight of the first nine batters as the Broncs (16-10) were unable to get anything going offensively. The Seawolves (10-10) had six hits on the day, but couldn't get on the board until the sixth inning. Lead-off Jen Milito connected with a single, and Tricia Lipareli followed with another. Two batters later, Tory Menchise walked and Poetzsch approaced the plate with the bases loaded and one out. Poetzsch collected the game-winning RBI when Rider pitcher Devin Karcesky walked her to plate Milito. Christie McMurray then followed with a sacrifice fly to score Lipareli. Poetzsch made the 2-0 advantage stand in the top of the seventh, as Heather Boyle grounded out and Poetzsch collected her final two strikeouts.

Poetzsch (8-3) pitched a near-perfect game as she yielded no hits, no runs and just one walk to go along with her 15 K's. The win was her fourth shutout this season. Not only that, she was a perfect 2-for-2 at the plate with the game-winning RBI to her credit.

Poetzsch went the distance in game two as well, and continued her phenomenal performance. Despite collecting 13 hits, the Seawolves' five errors would prove to be the difference as the Seawolves lost 4-2 in eight innings.

The Broncs scored right off the bat when Kim Merkle's sacrifice fly sent Boyle home. Stony Brook was unable to capitalize on several scoring opportunities as the Seawolves had left nine runners on base in the first four innings. But in the bottom of the fifth, McMurray struck again, as her second sacrifice fly of the day drove in Menchise.

The Broncs responded in the sixth when Amanda Tu reached on an error, and Rider went ahead 2-1. However, Stony Brook would not go quietly. Milito made Stony Brook history when she hit the first homerun at the Seawolves' brand-new field, crushing a shot over the right field fence to even the score again.

Poetzsch once again showed unbelievable poise in the top of the seventh. Pitching her 14th straight inning, two hits and an error loaded the bases with no outs. But Poetzsch struck out two of the next three batters and Merkle popped up to third base and the Seawolves escaped with the score still tied at 2-2.

Two runs on three hits and an error would give the Broncs the 4-2 advantage in the extra inning, and the Seawolves managed two hits to load the bases in the bottom of the eighth. But they could not manage to narrow the gap and suffered a disappointing 4-2 loss to earn a split with the Broncs.

Poetzsch had 10 K's in the nightcap to give her a total of an extraordinary 25 on the day, and she gave up four runs on seven hits. She also continued her solid performance at the plate, going 2-for-4. Milito continued to be the top slugger for the Seawolves, going 3-for-4 with an RBI, while Menchise was also 3-for-4 with a run scored.

Stony Brook returns to action on Saturday, April 7, when the Seawolves travel to Binghamton for a double-header that begins at 1 p.m.

GAME 1 R H E Rider 000 000 0 - 0 0 1 Stony Brook 000 002 x - 2 6 0

Winning pitcher: Stephanie Poetzsch (8-3) Losing pitcher: Devin Karcesky (8-3)