May 11, 2008

Game 1 Box Score

Game 2 Box Score

Stony Brook, N.Y. - Junior Steven Mazzurco (Selden, N.Y.) went 5-for-6 with three RBI and sophomore Mike Stephan (Patchogue, N.Y.) added three hits and four RBI as the Stony Brook University baseball team pounded out a season-high 23 hits on its way to a 16-5 victory over the UMBC Retrievers in the second game of a doubleheader on Sunday afternoon at University Field. Brad Brainer hit a go-ahead three-run home run with two outs in the eighth inning to give the Retrievers a 7-4 win in game one. The Seawolves honored their three seniors- Tom Koehler (New Rochelle, N.Y.), Gary Novakowski (Prospect, Conn.) and Jon Kalkau (Bellmore, N.Y.)- prior to the doubleheader.

UMBC (21-27, 13-11 America East) took an early lead in game two, scoring a run in the first on a RBI double from Will Delawter. But the Seawolves (29-21, 13-7 AE) answered back in the second, loading the bases with two outs for junior Brian Witkowski (Lindenhurst, N.Y.) who was hit by a pitch to force in a run and tie the game at 1-all. Freshman Chad Marshall (Paris, Ontario) followed with a two-run single to make it 3-1 and Stephan then lined a single up the middle to drive in the final run of the inning.

The Seawolves then put the game away with five runs in the fourth highlighted by a two-run double from Stephan and run-scoring doubles from Mazzurco and freshman Stephen Marino (Lake Grove, N.Y.). The Retrievers closed their deficit to 9-4 in the fifth on a three-run home run from Joe Fowler but Stony Brook added another five runs in the fifth on the strength of a two-run home run from sophomore Rob Dyer (Selden, N.Y.) and a solo shot from junior Michael Tansey (Valley Stream, N.Y.).

Sophomore Jeremy Nowak (Cheektowaga, N.Y.) picked up the victory for the Seawolves, allowing four runs in 7.0 innings of work. Austin Drewyer took the loss for the Retrievers, giving up nine runs and 12 hits in 4.0 innings.

Brainer led off game one with the first of his two home runs, giving the Retrievers a 1-0 lead. The Seawolves answered with three runs of their own in the bottom of the first as Witkowski singled to lead off the inning and then scored on a RBI single from Stephan who eventually came home on a wild pitch from UMBC starter Ed Bach. Mazzurco drove in the final run of the frame with a run-scoring single through the left side of the infield.

The Retrievers tied it in the third on a two-run home run from Fowler and it remained that way until the bottom of the sixth when the Seawolves regained the lead on a RBI double from Mazzurco. But the Retrievers put their first two runners on in the seventh against Stony Brook junior starter Mike Errigo (Bayside, N.Y.) and the Seawolves turned to sophomore Jordan Purington (Westbrook, Maine) to close out the seven-inning game.

Purington got the first two batters he faced but Shawn Retz then singled through the right side allowing Brainer to come home with the tying run. Tansey kept the Retrievers from taking the lead on the play, throwing out Scott Peddicord at home. Tansey nearly gave the Seawolves the victory in the bottom of the inning but his drive to left was caught at the foot of the wall.

UMBC then came up in the eighth and put two runners on with two outs to bring up Brainer who smashed his second home run of the game over the left-field fence to give the Retrievers a 7-4 lead. Bach then retired the side in the order in the bottom of the inning to finish off his complete game five-hitter. Mazzurco led the Seawolves offense with two hits and two RBI.

The Seawolves wrap up their home schedule on Tuesday, hosting the Seton Hall Pirates. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.