March 31, 2003

ON DECK: The Seawolves (10-15, 2-0) take on Vermont again today after sweeping Saturday's games by scores of 2-1 and 11-0. The Catamounts (2-8, 0-2) committed seven errors in Saturday's doubleheader and scored just one run, a solo homer by Megan Long. The teams were scheduled to play yesterday, but the games were postponed due to inclement weather.

SERIES HISTORY: Stony Brook leads the all-time series 6-1 after Saturday's wins.

BRYANT SURPASSES 400 WIN MARK: Stony Brook head coach Megan Bryant reached the 400-victory milestone in her 16-year career with Saturday's wins over Vermont. Bryant is now 401-372-1 overall.

SATURDAY'S DOUBLEHEADER: The Seawolves won game one, 2-1, and captured game two, 11-0, in five innings over Vemont on Saturday in the America East Conference opener for both teams. A costly error by the Catamounts, one of three in the game, helped the Seawolves to a 1-0 lead in the first inning of game one. Stephanie DiBiase scored on an error by the third baseman for Stony Brook's first run. However, Vermont's Megan Long countered with a homerun in the second inning, UVM's only run of the day. The Seawolves answered right back in the third with an RBI double from Hayley Durham that put SBU up 2-1. The Catamounts rallied in the bottom of the seventh when Heidi Gebo tripled to right field with just one out. However, Amanda Cavitt came in to pitch for starter Angela Andrews and she got the next two outs to help the Seawolves hold on for the win. DiBiase was 2-for-3 in the game with two runs scored to lead Stony Brook at the plate. Andrews (5-9) earned the win, allowing one run on seven hits with four strikeouts. Angie Totaro (1-5) allowed two runs on five hits with five strikeouts in a losing effort. In game two, it was an error-filled fourth inning that allowed Stony Brook to break the game open. With Stony Brook leading 4-0, Vermont pitcher Kara Massey walked in two runs after Stephanie McCarthy and DiBiase opened the inning with base hits. Totaro came on in relief, but an error by the second baseman allowed Durham to score. Two more errors led to two more Seawolves runs, and DiBiase's RBI single plated Colleen McCarthy. The Seawolves scored seven runs on three hits in the inning to stretch their lead to 11-0. Vermont finished with four errors in the game and just one hit, while Stony Brook pounded out nine hits. DiBiase was a perfect 4-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored, while Durham finished 2-for-3 with three runs scored. Stephanie McCarthy was 2-for-3 at the plate with a run scored. Jessica Paparella (5-6) earned the shutout victory, allowing just one hit and one walk and striking out one. Massey (1-3) was credited with the loss, allowing nine runs on eight hits while walking four.

COSTLY CATAMOUNT ERRORS: Vermont struggled defensively in Saturday's games, nearly finishing with more errors than hits. The Catamounts recorded seven miscues in the doubleheader while collecting eight hits. A three-error inning four in game two allowed Stony Brook to take an 11-0 lead and put the game away. In game one, Heidi Gebo collected three hits to lead the team, while Megan Long's solo homerun served as the only run of the day for UVM. In game two, Gebo earned the lone hit for the Catamounts.

STELLAR STEPHANIE: Sophomore Stephanie DiBiase had an outstanding day at the plate against Vermont on Saturday. DiBiase was 6-for-7, scoring four runs and driving in one against the Catamounts. The performance upped DiBiase's batting average to .381 and gave her 32 hits on the season, both of which lead the team.

HAYLEY'S COMET: Freshman Hayley Durham has also stepped it up at the plate in the Seawolves' last two doubleheaders. Against Vermont, she was 3-for-5, all doubles, while scoring three runs with one RBI. She 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. Durham's .315 batting average is the third-best on the team.

MAC ATTACK: Junior Stephanie McCarthy was 2-for-5 at the plate against Vermont with a run scored after a 3-for-5 outing against Hofstra on Thursday, one of her best performances of the season. She has collected 14 hits on the season with three RBI and has started all but one game this season.

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 25 games, the Seawolves have crushed 15 homeruns, led by Kristen Brust's six.

LOOKING AHEAD: Stony Brook's homestand continues as the Seawolves face Marist on Tuesday and Fairfield on Wednesday. The Seawolves then return to conference play with a trip to Boston University next weekend.