April 28, 2005

Game 1
Game 2

Stony Brook, N.Y. - Hayley Durham went 4-for-6 with three home runs, six RBI and four runs scored to lead the Stony Brook softball team to a crucial double header sweep of Hartford on Thursday afternoon at University Field. The wins coupled with a pair of losses by Maine push the Seawolves (19-28, 9-6), who entered the afternoon a game behind the Hawks (13-15, 6-7) in the America East standings, into sole possession of third place.

In the opener, the Seawolves struck for three runs in the bottom of the first as Jane Stein drew a lead off walk and moved to second on a wild pitch. After an intentional walk to Kristen Brust, Durham belted her first home run of the day over the center field wall to give Stony Brook a 3-0 lead.

Hartford got on the board in the top of the fourth on a solo home run by Nikki Thompson to cut the lead to 3-1.

The Seawolves put the game away in the fifth when Kristen Brust led off with a double to left and Durham blasted her second homer of the game over the left field fence to make it 5-1. Suzanne Turek reached on a throwing error by the short stop and moved to third when Christina Voth reached on an error by the pitcher on a sacrifice bunt attempt. After Sara Cerrone came on to run for Voth, Marissa Servello pushed a single through the left side, scoring Turek and moving Cerrone to second. Rachael Vogl sacrificed both runners up a base before Laura Bradford singled up the middle to score Cerrone and make it 7-1. Bradford stole second and moved to third when Servello scored on a wild pitch. Stein then hit a grounder to short, scoring Bradford to make it 9-1 and end the game.

Sarah Hoffman (10-10) tossed a five hitter, allowing one run while striking out eight and walking one. Nicole McMillon (8-6) took the loss after surrendering nine runs, five earned, on seven hits and four walks.

Brust went 2-for-2 with two runs scored, while Durham was 2-for-3 with two runs and five RBI to lead SB at the plate.

In the nightcap, the Seawolves picked up a run in the bottom of the third as Brust hit a two-out double to the right center field gap and Durham was intentionally walked. Turek and Servello drew back-to-back walks to force in Brust and give SB the 1-0 lead.

Hartford knotted the game at one in the top of the fourth as Mallory Rapoza singled and later scored on an RBI single by Alex Morley. The Hawks managed to load the bases in the inning, but Stony Brook starter Angela Andrews got Samantha Morrison to ground out to second base to end the threat.

SB answered right back in the bottom of the inning as Stein and Vogl hit back-to-back solo home runs, but Hartford got a run back in the fifth on an RBI single by Briana Hout to make it 3-2.

Durham struck for her third home run of the afternoon and team-leading 13th of the season to put the Seawolves back up 4-2 after five. The Hawks trimmed the lead back to a run on an RBI double by Morrison to make it 4-3 in the sixth and tied it at four on an RBI single by Sullivan in the seventh.

The Seawolves loaded the bases on back-to-back-to-back singles by Brust, Durham and Turek to start the bottom of the seventh. Servello reached on a fielder's choice as Ashley Westphal, who was running for Brust, was thrown out at the plate on the force. That brought up Margaret Blair, who blooped an 0-2 pitch down the right field line, scoring Durham for the victory.

Voth (4-1) picked up the win in relief, allowing two runs, one earned, on three hits and a walk while striking out two in 2.2 innings. Andrews allowed two runs, one earned, on nine hits and two walks while striking out a pair over 4.1 innings. Hout (4-4) took the loss, surrendering five runs on 10 hits and four walks while striking out five.

The Seawolves are back in action this weekend when they travel to take on Boston University in a three-game series.