March 6, 2009

Towson Box Score
Harvard Box Score

Boca Raton, Fla. - Stony Brook University's softball team managed just three hits in its opening round at the Florida Atlantic "Miken" Classic on Friday in Boca Raton, Florida. The Seawolves first game was a 2-1 loss to Towson, which was followed by 4-1 defeat against Harvard. Stony Brook is now 4-3 on the season.

The Seawolves grabbed an early lead against Towson, plating an unearned run in the second inning. Senior Marissa Fleury (Mahopac, N.Y.) opened the frame with a single back up the middle, which ended up being Stony Brook's only hit of the game as Shannon Johnston pitched a complete game one-hitter for the Tigers.

Junior Alyssa Struzenberg (Cooper City, Fla.) was almost untouchable over the first five innings of the game, allowing just two hits while striking out seven. However, in the top of the sixth, with the Seawolves still leading, 1-0, the Tigers hit back-to-back singles to put runners on first and second and chase Struzenberg from the game.

After a single by Erika Stasch loaded the bases, Towson scored its first run of the game on a fielder's choice to centerfield. Junior Casey Jacobs (Davie, Fla.) got the next hitter to ground to second, but it was deep enough to score the runner from third, giving the Tigers a 2-1 lead.

Stony Brook would get a runner to third in the sixth and second in the seventh, but failed to capitalize as Towson pulled off the come-from-behind win.

The Seawolves' offensive struggles continued against Harvard, being held hitless until the sixth inning. The same could not be said for Harvard, which scored twice in the bottom of the third on a Stony Brook error and a double-steal.

The Crimson struck again in the fourth, taking advantage of three Seawolves errors to plate their third run of the game and then extended their lead to 4-0 in sixth on a pair of singles and a walk.

Stony Brook scored its lone run of the game in the top of the seventh as junior Kendall Blumenthal (Frederick, Md.) started the inning off by reach base on an error by Harvard's first baseman. A single by senior Molly Kestranek (St. Mary's, Ga.) moved her to second and a passed ball allowed Blumenthal to advance to third. Freshman Bernadette Tenuto (Audubon, N.J.) picked up her third RBI of the year when pitcher Rachel Brown mishandled her grounder, allowing Blumenthal to score. Brown allowed just two hits in seven innings, recording ten strikeouts.

The Seawolves have two games on Saturday, facing Central Michigan at 11 a.m. and then host, Florida Atlantic, at 6 p.m.