April 13, 2009

Box Score

Stony Brook, N.Y. - Sophomore Brijette Martin (New York, N.Y.) went 3-for-3 with two RBI as Stony Brook University's softball team completed a three-game sweep of Vermont with a 8-0 win on Monday afternoon. Junior Alyssa Struzenberg (Cooper City, Fla.) allowed only two hits in her complete-game effort. Stony Brook improves to 26-7 (9-2 America East) on the season while Vermont drops to 6-26 (3-6 America East).

Stony Brook first broke into the scoring column in the second inning with a big two-out rally. Following two fly outs to left, junior Jade Clare (Federal Way, Wash.) and Martin hit back-to-back singles to put runners on first and second. Junior Vicki Kavitsky (Cherry Hill, N.J.) then singled through the right side, plating Clare. Junior Crista Cerrone (Floral Park, N.Y.) followed that with a line-drive double down the left-field line, scoring two more runs and giving Stony Brook a 3-0 lead.

SBU matched that scoring effort in third inning, starting with an RBI single up the middle by junior Kendall Blumenthal (Frederick, Md.). Two batters later, with runners on second and third, Martin lined a shot to center field. Vermont's outfielder almost made a diving play, but the ball popped out as she crashed to the ground, allowing both runners to score and giving Martin a double.

The offense sputtered in the fourth and fifth innings as Stony Brook failed to get a runner on base, but picked back up in the sixth. With runners on first and second and two out, senior Kelsi Fanelli (Audubon, N.J.) hit a fly ball to right which swirled around in the wind before being dropped the Catamounts' right fielder. The pair of unearned runs ended the game as it put the Seawolves up 8-0.

Struzenberg struck out seven batters while issuing only two walks. Already ranked second in career wins, Struzenberg is one shutout shy of moving into third-place in career shutouts and is only four behind the all-time mark of 18, set by Stephanie Poetzsch '02.

Stony Brook has a pair of non-conference tilts this week against Fairfield and Sacred Heart before heading north to play Boston University. The Terriers defeated Hartford today to give them sole possession of second-place with a 7-3 conference record.