March 28, 2003

ON DECK: The Seawolves (8-15, 0-0) kick off America East Conference play today against Vermont in the league opener for both teams. Stony Brook dropped a doubleheader to Hofstra on Thursday. The Catamounts (2-6, 0-0) are playing their first game after a week at the Rebel Games in Florida.

SERIES HISTORY: Stony Brook leads the all-time series 4-1.

ABOUT THE CATAMOUNTS: Vermont picked up victories over Rider and Dayton during the Rebel Games in Florida. George Washington defeated UVM 4-3 in the Catamounts' last outing. Megan Long bats a team-high .350 and has a team-high six RBI to her credit. Ashley Stebbins has recorded a team-best nine hits. Angie Totaro has seen the most action on the mound, pitching 33.0 innings. She has an ERA of 1.91 and has struck out 20 on the season.

MILESTONE ON THE HORIZON: With a victory today, head coach Megan Bryant will reach the 400-win milestone in her 16-year career. Bryant is currently 399-372-1 overall. At Stony Brook, she has compiled a 54-65 record.

LAST MEETING-May 5, 2002: Stephanie Poetzsch allowed three hits in 14 innings and teammate Stephanie DiBiase went 7-for-8 at the plate to lead visiting Stony Brook past Vermont, 8-0 and 2-1, in the season finale for both teams. Poetzsch fired a no-hitter in game one and didn't allow a Vermont runner past second base. DiBiase had a tremendous day, going 4-for-4, including a homerun, and scoring four runs. In game two, Poetzsch continued her no-hitter in the first two innings of the nightcap, but Vermont finally solved her when junior Kristy Winberg drilled a double in the bottom of the third inning. It was the Catamounts' first hit of the afternoon. Winberg would eventually score on a wild pitch to give Vermont a 1-0 lead. The Seawolves answered with a run in the top of the fourth to tie the game 1-1, and Kristen Brust would score the game-winning run on a wild pitch. Poetzsch recorded 12 strikeouts with four walks and just three hits in the doubleheader.

LAST TIME OUT: Hofstra pounded out 27 hits on the afternoon as the Pride swept Stony Brook in a doubleheader at University Field on Thursday. In game one, the Pride's Heather Brousseau was a perfect 4-4 at the plate with an RBI, while Tara Ulrich finished 2-4, including a double and a homerun. Ulrich also drove in three runs. Amanda Hallaway was also outstanding with a 3-5 performance. Stony Brook's Stephanie McCarthy collected a pair of hits for the Seawolves, who finished with seven hits compared to 17 for the Pride. Stony Brook also committed three errors. Angela Andrews (4-9) pitched 5.2 innings, allowing seven runs on 13 hits while striking out three in a losing effort. Jessica Paparella pitched 1.1 innings in relief, allowing two runs on four hits. In a 9-2 game two victory, Hallaway was again impressive with a 4-4 outing, including a homerun, while Ulrich collected a pair of RBI. Hayley Durham led Stony Brook with a 2-4 effort, including a triple. Paparella (4-6) pitched the first two innings, allowing three runs on five hits to pick up the loss. Amanda Cavitt (0-0) pitched five innings in relief, giving up two runs on five hits.

SERVELLO SERVES UP HITS: Sophomore Marissa Servello has stepped up her play at the plate in the Seawolves' last two doubleheaders. On Tuesday against Sacred Heart, she was 2-for-5 at the plate and drove home four of the Seawolves' eight runs on the afternoon. Against Hofstra, she enjoyed a 2-for-6 outing with two RBI. Servello's hot bat has improved her batting average to .295 on the season, third-best on the team.

HAYLEY'S COMET: Freshman Hayley Durham also had a solid outing against Hofstra on Thursday. On the afternoon, she was 3-for-7 with two RBI and a run scored. In the nightcap, it was her two-run triple in the fifth inning that closed the gap to 3-2 before Hofstra pulled away with a 5-2 victory.

MAC ATTACK: Junior Stephanie McCarthy was 3-for-5 against Hofstra, one of her best performances of the season. She has collected 12 hits on the season with three RBI and has started all 22 games.

AIMING FOR THE FENCES: Last season, Stony Brook set a new single season record with 26 homeruns, and the Seawolves are well on their way to setting a new mark this year. After only 23 games, the Seawolves have crushed 15 homeruns, led by Kristen Brust's six. Brust recorded four dingers last season.

LOOKING AHEAD: Stony Brook's homestand continues tomorrow with another doubleheader against Vermont. The Seawolves then play host to Marist and Fairfield next week on Tuesday and Wednesday before hitting the road to take on Boston University.