April 9, 2002

ON DECK: The Seawolves take a break from America East action today as Stony Brook plays host to Iona College at University Field. The Seawolves hope to end a three-game skid today as Boston University captured three out of four games last weekend.

SERIES HISTORY: Stony Brook leads the all-time series 4-2 and swept the Gaels in a doubleheader last season by scores of 4-2 and 1-0.

ABOUT THE GAELS: Iona is 10-13 overall and has won three of its last four games. The Gaels come off a sweep of St. Peter's College on Sunday. Sophomore centerfielder Aviva Jorstad, who has started every game, leads Iona at the plate, collecting 23 hits in 60 at-bats (.383). Freshman Liz Hammel is also a strong hitter with a .365 average (23 hits). On the mound, junior Amy Burdette is 6-5 with an ERA of 2.94. In 64.1 innings, she has allowed 59 hits and struck out 44 while walking 43. Sophomore Kate Giella has pitched 40.1 innings and has an ERA of 3.12.

LAST TIME OUT: Stony Brook managed just four hits on the day as Boston University earned a sweep against the Seawolves in a doubleheader at University Field on Sunday afternoon. The Terriers (12-18, 7-1 America East) captured game one, 8-0 in six innings, and won the nightcap by a score of 1-0 as both Julie Henneke and Robyn Horrick earned a complete game shutout for BU. After a scoreless tie heading into the fifth inning, the Terriers struck with a big two-out rally. With runners at second and third and two outs, Seawolves pitcher Lindsey DeLaRosa intentionally walked pitcher Julie Henneke to load the bases. Ayrn Rangel followed with an RBI single to right field that scored two runs and advanced Henneke to third. A Stony Brook error allowed the Terriers to add two unearned runs. BU followed up with another two-out rally in the sixth inning. Jamie Haas' RBI single to right field scored DeKenya Williams to get the Terriers going. Pinch hitter Janine Valente followed with an RBI single of her own and Henneke added an RBI double before another RBI single by Rangel gave BU a commanding 8-0 lead. Kristen Brust earned the Seawolves' second hit of the game in the bottom of the inning, but after loading the bases with just one out, Henneke struck out Stony Brook's final two batters to earn the win. The Seawolves continued to struggle offensively in the second game, but BU couldn't get the bats going either against SBU pitcher Stephanie Poetzsch. Poetzsch struck out four of the first six Terrier batters en route to 12 K's on the afternoon. However, Haas crushed an RBI triple in the third inning that scored Kristin Knesek and the 1-0 lead would stand. The Seawolves managed just two hits against Horrick, who recorded seven K's on the afternoon.

PATCH NAMED ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Senior Stephanie Poetzsch earned Stony Brook Athlete of the Week honors after an outstanding performance in five games last week. Poetzsch earned two complete-game shutouts en route to a 3-2 record. Her first shutout of the week came against Fairleigh Dickinson in a 6-0 victory. In that game, Poetzsch allowed just three hits and struck out 15, which tied her own school record for most strikeouts in a single game. Poetzsch then helped Stony Brook hand BU its first conference loss, a 1-0 victory in the four-game series opener. She again gave up just three hits while striking out 13 and walking none. Poetzsch returned to the mound for the nightcap against the Terriers, a 3-2 loss in eight innings. On the day, Poetzsch struck out 23 batters, walked just one and allowed 12 hits in 15 innings. Poetzsch allowed four hits, struck out 12 and walked just one in a 1-0 loss to the Terriers the next day. She also earned a 3-1 non-conference win earlier in the week against Fairfield, allowing just five hits, no earned runs and striking out seven while walking one. On the season, Poetzsch is 10-8 with an ERA of 2.08. She has struck out 148 batters while allowing only 33 walks.

WORKING OVERTIME: The Seawolves have seen four of their games so far go to extra innings, and Stony Brook hasn't fared well with three losses. Last weekend, Boston University rallied from a 2-0 deficit to earn a 3-2 win in eight innings on Julie Henneke's solo homerun. Tulsa defeated the Seawolves 3-0 in eight innings the second game of the year, while Albany earned a 2-0 win in nine innings in the America East Conference opener. Stony Brook's lone extra-inning win came against Fairfield last week as the Seawolves erupted for three runs in the eighth and ended the game with a play at the plate for the 3-1 victory.

TAKING A HIT: The Seawolves' bats struggled last weekend against BU pitchers Julie Henneke and Robyn Horrick. Henneke, who was named the America East Player of the Week for her performance, pitched a perfect three innings and sent the Seawolves down in order with strikeouts in the bottom of the eighth, earning a 3-2 extra-inning win on Saturday. In Sunday's 8-0 loss, she pitched a two-hitter with 13 strikeouts in six innings. Horrick also did her share of shutting Stony Brook down offensively, allowing just six hits, onr run and 17 K's in two games.

IN THE AMERICA EAST: Kristen Brust leads the league in doubles with seven . . . she is also second in homeruns with four . . . Stephanie DiBiase is second with a perfect 10-10 in stolen bases . . . Stephanie Poetzsch's 148 strikeouts in 125.1 innings is far ahead of the rest of the pack, Maine' Jenna Merchant is second with 91 in 133.1 innings pitched.

EYE ON THE RECORD BOOKS: Poetzsch's 148 strikeouts so far this season is the second-highest season total in history . . . she holds the top spot with 231 last season.