June 3, 2002

For the second straight season, the Stony Brook softball team recorded the most wins in the program's history, giving second-year head coach Megan Bryant two consecutive 20-win seasons.

However, after a 25-27 finish in the 2002 campaign, a winning record continued to elude the Seawolves, who finished out of the running for an America East Tournament berth.

But with five freshmen starting 50 or more games, the Seawolves' youth and inexperience was a factor, as Stony Brook suffered 14 one-run setbacks. However, three of those newcomers were among the top four hitters for Stony Brook this season, and two--Kristen Brust and Stephanie DiBiase--received first team All-America East accolades.

Eclipsing the Mark: After recording the most wins in a season in Stony Brook softball history last season, Megan Bryant surpassed the total of 21 wins in her second year at the helm for a new record-best. The Seawolves earned 25 victories under Bryant in 2002, after winning 21 games last season. Prior to that, Stony Brook's most successful season was a 14-10 finish in 1991.

Three Earn Conference Honors: Freshmen Kristen Brust and Stephanie DiBiase and senior Stephanie Poetzsch all earned first team All-America East honors. In addition, Brust and DiBiase were named to the All-Rookie Team.

DiBiase finished as the team's best hitter with a .338 average, while Brust started all 52 games at first base and batted .280. Poetzsch concluded her Stony Brook career with a 19-15 record in her final season, an ERA of 1.71 and a school-record 282 strikeouts.

Brust's Bat: Despite being just a freshman, Kristen Brust proved to be a consistent and reliable player both at the plate and defensively. The first baseman, who was the only Seawolf to start all 52 games, committed just five errors all season. Brust finished with a .280 average, second on the team, and added a team-high 14 doubles, which ranked second in the conference. Brust also belted four homeruns and drove in 17 runs.

Deebs Leads the Way: Stephanie DiBiase concluded a stellar debut season as Stony Brook's best hitter with a .338 average. She led the team in hits (54), batting average (.338), runs (30), homeruns (6) and stolen bases (20-22) in her first season with the Seawolves.

DiBiase closed out the season in style, receiving America East Conference Rookie of the Week honors after the final week of regular season play. DiBiase went 7-for-8 in a season-ending doubleheader with Vermont, including her sixth homerun of the season. That performance capped off a week in which DiBiase hit .577 in seven games with two homeruns and three RBI.

Patching Up a Career: Senior pitcher Stephanie Poetzsch finished her three-year career as arguably the best pitcher in the history of the program. She led the America East in seven categories: wins (19), innings pitched (236.2), strikeouts (282), appearances (39), games started (32), shutouts (10) and complete games (30). She finished with a record of 19-15 and an ERA of 1.71.

Poetzsch received America East Conference Pitcher of the Week honors on April 22 after becoming the program's all-time leader in wins with her 32nd victory over Marist.

Patch Adds Milestone: Stephanie Poetzsch became Stony Brook's all-time winningest pitcher this season with 36 victories spanning her three-year career.

Poetzsch passed the mark of 31 wins, a record held by Roe Molinelli from 1986-89. She compiled a mark of 36-43 from 2000-2002.

Patch Scatters Name: Stephanie Poetzsch recorded seven new career marks in the Stony Brook archives with her performance this year.

Poetzsch leads the Seawolves all-time in wins (36), strikeouts (632), appearances (85), games started (75), complete games (70), shutouts (18) and innings pitched (536.0).

Those marks all came in just three years for Poetzsch, who transferred to Stony Brook from Rhode Island in 2000.

Records Abound: The Seawolves did their share of setting new school records this season, breaking nine single-season batting records, four single-season fielding records and seven single-season pitching records.

Stony Brook also set several career records. Shea Carpenter set two new marks: fewest errors (6) and fielding percentage (.987). Meanwhile, Stephanie Poetzsch recorded seven career marks.

Coming Up Short: The Seawolves' 2-1 victory over Vermont in the season finale served as a familiar conclusion. Eighteen of Stony Brook's games this season were one-run scores, with the Seawolves on the short end in 13 of those games. That makes nearly half of Stony Brook's 27 setbacks this year just one-run losses.

In the America East: Stony Brook missed the chance to play in its first America East Tournament, finishing in sixth place after the regular season. The top four teams from the conference advanced to the tournament.

The 2001 Seawolves played in the postseason at the Division I level for the first time, making an appearance in the ECAC Tournament.

Homer Totals: The Seawolves ripped 26 homeruns this season which is more than double last year's total of 12, the previous single-season record. Stephanie DiBiase led the way with six dingers, and Jane Stein had five on the year. Stony Brook's opponents had just eight homeruns.

Strikeout Stephanie: Stephanie Poetzsch tied her own school record for most strikeouts in game with 15 K's against Fairleigh Dickinson on April 4. Poetzsch scattered three hits and walked just two batters in earning her ninth win. FDU ruined the no-hitter in the sixth inning, but Poetzsch still posted her third complete-game shutout.

Routing the Devils: The Seawolves recorded their most-lopsided victory at the Division I level with an 18-4 shellacking of Central Connecticut on March 26. Stony Brook jumped out to a quick 6-0 lead, but it was a seven-run seventh inning that did CCSU in. Amanda Staschuk collected two hits and two RBI and hit her first homerun of the season.

Carpenter's Work: Senior catcher Shea Carpenter was one of the Seawolves' best sluggers this year and most reliable fielders. Carpenter committed just one error behind the plate with 231 putouts. On the season, she collected 33 hits including six doubles and four homeruns. Her 24 RBI led the team.

Stein Time: Freshman Jane Stein got her career off to a promising start with the Seawolves. Playing both infield and outfield, she started 49 games and batted .261 on the year. Her 37 hits was the third-highest total on the team, and she collected seven doubles, two triples and five homers. Her 22 RBI was second only to Carpenter's 24.

Staschuk's Turnaround: Without a doubt, sophomore Amanda Staschuk was the Seawolves' most improved player. After just eight hits during her freshman year, Staschuk collected 31 with a batting average of .258. She was her most impressive early on, leading the Seawolves at the plate during the first half of the season. Staschuk ripped two homeruns and drove in 14 runs in 44 games.

Noteworthy Notaro: Senior Lisa Notaro cranked her first career homerun against Marist on April 21. Her two-run shot extended SBU's lead to 8-4 en route to the 85 victory. Notaro was 2-for-3 with two RBI and a run scored.

The Seawolves finished just under .500 with a team half made up of brand-new faces to Stony Brook softball.

With the core of the Seawolves' starting lineup returning for Megan Bryant's third year at the helm, the outlook of SBU softball in 2003 looks bright.