Feb. 23, 2008

Colgate Box Score

USC Upstate Box Score

Charlotte, N.C. - Stony Brook's softball team split their opening day games Saturday in Charlotte, N.C. at the Charlotte First Pitch Classic. The Seawolves won game one against Colgate, 9-2, but dropped game two against USC Upstate, 8-2.

Stony Brook's powerful offense was on full display during game one, posting six runs in the first four innings. The Seawolves took advantage of two early fielding mistakes by Colgate in the first inning, plating two runs on three hits.

The offense didn't slow down in the second inning. Sophomore Jade Clare (Federal Way, Wash.) hit a lead-off homer to centerfield and sophomore Kendall Blumenthal (Frederick, Md.) followed her with a deep shot of her own to left for back-to-back home runs.

That was all the offense that sophomore Alyssa Struzenberg (Cooper City, Fla.) needed, as she allowed just two earned runs on five hits in seven innings of work. Struzenberg struck out six Raiders, while issuing three walks.

Sophomore Vicki Kavitsky (Cherry Hill, N.J.) had a great game for the Seawolves, going 3-4 with two RBI and a double. Senior Ashley Westphal (Huntington Beach, Calif.) added two hits and a stolen base and senior Sara Cerrone (Floral Park, N.Y.) chipped in with a home run of her own.

In the afternoon game against USC Upstate, Stony Brook again struck early, scoring twice in the second inning, with RBI from junior Molly Kestranek (St. Mary's, Ga.) and sophomore Katelyn O'Donnell (Kingston, Mass.). However, that would be it for the Seawolves' offense, as USC Upstate's starting pitcher, Morgan Childers, allowed just four hits over the final five innings.

Stony Brook plays two more games tomorrow, starting at 9:30 a.m. against Kent State.