May 10, 2008

Game 1 Box Score

Game 2 Box Score

Stony Brook, N.Y. - Junior Steven Mazzurco (Selden, N.Y.) hit the go-ahead RBI single with one out in the eighth inning and senior Tom Koehler (New Rochelle, N.Y.) struck out 12 in 8.0 innings to lead the Stony Brook University baseball team to a 5-1 victory over the Maryland-Baltimore County Retrievers in the first game of a doubleheader on Saturday afternoon at University Field. The Retrievers pounded out 13 hits on their way to a 10-4 win in game two. Stony Brook ends the day at 28-20 overall and 12-6 in the America East while UMBC goes to 20-26 and 12-10.

The teams entered the bottom of the eighth of game one tied at 1-all but junior Chad Rebecca (Mt. Prospect, Ill.) singled to lead off and moved to second when sophomore Mike Stephan (Patchogue, N.Y.) walked. Sophomore Rob Dyer (Selden, N.Y.) then flew out to center to move Rebecca to third and Mazzurco followed with a run-scoring single through the left side to give the Seawolves the lead. Junior Michael Tansey (Valley Stream, NY.) then smashed a three-run home over the left-field fence to make it 5-1.

Sophomore Jordan Purington (Westbrook, Maine) pitched a scoreless ninth to secure the victory for SBU. Koehler picked up the victory for Stony Brook, allowing just one run and five hits in his 8.0 innings of work. Dan Blewett took the loss for the Retrievers, giving up three runs and six hits in 7.0+ innings.

UMBC broke the scoreless tie in the seventh, loading the bases with one out and then scoring on a RBI fielder's choice from Brad Brainer. The Seawolves tied it in the bottom of the inning as junior Keith Fier (Armonk, N.Y.) singled with two outs, stole second and then came home on a run-scoring single from junior Justin Echevarria (Uniondale, N.Y.) after freshman Stephen Marino (Lake Grove, N.Y.) had walked.

The Retrievers broke on top first again in game two, getting a run in the third on a RBI groundout from Brainer. Stony Brook answered in the home half of the third on a one-out solo home run from Stephan.

But UMBC broke the game open in the seventh, striking for four runs. Tom Meaney led the inning off with a home run and the Retrievers then put runners on first and second with one out. Scott Peddicord followed with a run-scoring single to push UMBC's lead to two. Joe Fowler and Wink Nolan added run-scoring hits later in the inning to make it 5-1.

Stony Brook crept back in the game with a run in the fifth on a Mazzurco RBI single and another in the sixth on a run-scoring double from freshman Nick Thode (Huntington Station, N.Y.). But the Seawolves missed an opportunity for more runs in the sixth as Stephan flew out to center with one out and Witkowski running on the pitch, allowing the Retrievers to turn a double play and get out of the inning.

UMBC then put the game away with five runs in the seventh highlighted by a three-run home run from Will Delawter who also picked up the win, allowing three runs and six hits in 6.0 innings. Senior Gary Novakowski (Prospect, Conn.) took the loss for Stony Brook, giving up five runs and eight hits in 4.1 innings of work.

The teams will conclude the series on Sunday with a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. The Seawolves will honor their three seniors prior to the game.