April 12, 2002
ON DECK: After a pair of non-conference doubleheaders this week, the Seawolves will return to America East Conference action this weekend against Binghamton (15-16 overall, 3-5 America East) in Vestal, N.Y. Stony Brook (13-18, 2-6 America East) split with Iona and dropped two to Seton Hall this week, while Binghamton was swept by Colgate. In their previous conference outing, the Bearcats split with Albany. The Seawolves went 1-3 against first-place Boston University last weekend.
SERIES HISTORY: The all-time series is tied at 10-10, but the Bearcats have captured six of the last seven meetings. Binghamton shut out the Seawolves in a doubleheader sweep last year, winning 1-0 and 2-0.
ABOUT THE BEARCATS: Binghamton is fifth in the conference standings after a split with Albany last weekend. The Bearcats scored just one run against Colgate on Thursday as the Red Raiders swept BU. Jessica Chellis, who has started all but one game, is hitting .321 with a team-high 21 RBI, while Marisa DeStasio's 29 hits lead the team. Despite a 4-7 record, Margaret Yerdon has an ERA of just 2.02 in 89.0 innings. She has also struck out 76 while allowing just 17 walks.
LAST TIME OUT: Late-game rallies from the Stony Brook softball team weren't enough as Seton Hall held on to defeat the Seawolves in both games of a doubleheader at University Field on Thursday afternoon. The Pirates (18-10) won game one, 3-2, and posted a 5-0 victory in the nightcap. Seton Hall built a 3-0 lead after five innings in game one with the help of rightfielder McKenzie Richards. Richards' RBI single up the middle in the third gave the Pirates a 1-0 lead, and she struck again in the fifth inning when she stole home to give the Pirates a 3-0 lead. The Seawolves scattered five hits throughout the first five innings but couldn't capitalize, stranding Jane Stein at third base and Stephanie DiBiase at second in the fifth inning. However, Stony Brook rallied in the bottom of the seventh. Stein's two-run homer over the left centerfield fence brought the Seawolves within a run, but that would be as close as Stony Brook would get. Stephanie Poetzsch (11-9) went the distance for Stony Brook, allowing three runs on six hits, striking out four and walking four. The Seawolves' bats struggled in the nightcap against SHU's Megan Meyer, and the Pirates steadily built a 5-0 lead with the last two runs coming courtesy of Meg Berry's two-run homer in the fifth. Poetzsch went in relief for Lindsey DeLaRosa and allowed just one hit the remainder of the game. Stony Brook again showed life in the bottom of the seventh, when two hits and an error loaded the bases, but the Seawolves could not get a run across. DeLaRosa was credited with the loss, allowing five runs on nine hits while striking out four. The Seawolves managed just three hits, two coming in the final inning, against Meyer, who went the distance to earn the win.
A LITTLE TOO LATE: The Seawolves rallied in the seventh inning of both games against Seton Hall on Thursday, but it wasn't enough to come away with a victory. In game one, the Seawolves cut a 3-0 lead to 3-2, collecting three hits in the inning including a two-run homer by Jane Stein. With the score 3-2, Cass Broadwater singled to give Stony Brook the tying run at first with just one out. But two popups ended the Seawolves' hopes for a miracle comeback. Game two followed the same pattern, with Stony Brook challenging in the bottom of the seventh. Down 5-0, Stephanie McCarthy reached on an error and pinch hitter Jen Milito singled up the middle for just the second hit of the day for Stony Brook. Two batters later, Marissa Servello connected to load the bases with just one out. However, Pirates pitcher Megan Meyer sent Broadwater down swinging and DiBiase followed with a groundout to end the game.
COMING UP EMPTY: The Seawolves have struggled to get runs on the board lately, losing four of their last five games by way of shutouts. In those games, Stony Brook has collected just 10 hits. On the season, the Seawolves have eight losses in which they failed to score a run.
HOME NOT SO SWEET HOME: University Field has not been very friendly to the Seawolves lately, with Stony Brook losing six in a 10-game home stretch. The Seawolves have also been shut out in four of those losses. Overall, Stony Brook is 5-9 at home
HOMER WATCH: Freshman Jane Stein's third career homerun against Seton Hall on Thursday gives the Seawolves 15 in their first 31 games. Stony Brook collected 12 all of last year, the previous season high.
LOOKING AHEAD: Stony Brook continues America East Conference play next week against Hartford at home on Tuesday. The Seawolves then play host to non-conference foe Sacred Heart on Wednesday.
