March 30, 2002

Final Stats

Stony Brook, N.Y. - The Stony Brook softball team earned a split with America East Conference rival Albany in a doubleheader at University Field on Saturday afternoon. The Seawolves captured game one by a score of 4-1, while Albany overcame a fierce Stony Brook rally to win game two, 6-5.

The Seawolves (8-11, 1-3 America East) exploded for three runs in the first inning of game one. Stephanie DiBiase led off with a base hit to center field, and Colleen McCarthy followed with a hit of her own. Kristen Brust then crushed a shot over the centerfield fence to bring both runners home, and the Seawolves held a quick 3-0 lead.Stony Brook added a run in the third inning with an RBI single from Cass Broadwater.

Albany (13-5, 3-1 America East), which managed just four hits against Seawolves pitcher Stephanie Poetzsch, closed to within 4-1 in the sixth inning when Jessica Kostenblatt's RBI single plated Liz Wieboldt. However, the Great Danes could get no closer as the Seawolves beat Albany for just the second time in the last 15 games between the two teams.

Stephanie Poetzsch (7-6) picked up the win on the mound, scattering four hits over seven innings while striking out eight. Brust finished 2-for-3 at the plate with three RBI, while DiBiase and McCarthy were both 2-for-4.

In game two, Albany raced to a 6-0 lead after three and a half innings. With a 1-0 lead in the top of the third, a Seawolves error allowed Megan Craft to reach first base while Liz Wieboldt scored. Two batters later, Stacy Kowal's RBI double to centerfield brought two more runs home for a 4-0 lead. With Poetzsch in the game for sophomore pitcher Lindsey DeLaRosa, the Great Danes tacked on two more runs in the fourth on an RBI double by Valerie Terry and a sacrifice fly by Lynnette Bohannon.

However, the Seawolves rallied in the bottom of the inning with two runs of their own thanks to some defensive mistakes by the Great Danes. After Kristen Brust led off with an infield hit, Shea Carpenter reached on an error by Albany's Jenni Barros. Brust and pinch runner Lisa Notaro then advanced on a passed ball, and Amanda Staschuk's RBI single scored Brust. Poetzsch followed with a sacrifice fly to plate Notaro.

The Seawolves continued to battle and it paid off in the bottom of the sixth inning. Two more errors by the Great Danes allowed Jane Stein to score, and an RBI double to left center by Cass Broadwater drove in two runs as the Seawolves drew within 6-5.But that would be as close as Stony Brook would get, as Albany held on for its third win in the four-game series.

DeLaRosa (1-4) was credited with the loss, giving up five runs on six hits in three innings of work. Poetzsch (7-6) allowed one run on four hits in four innings.

Stony Brook returns to action on Tuesday, April 2, in a non-conference doubleheader with Fairfield.