April 8, 2009

Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score

Stony Brook, N.Y. - In a matchup that featured two of the three-top teams in the America East, Stony Brook University's softball team split its doubleheader with Hartford on Wednesday afternoon. The Seawolves pounded out 15 hits in their game one, 8-2, victory before losing a pitchers' duel in game two, 2-1. Junior Vicki Kavitsky (Cherry Hill, N.J.) went 4-for-5 with four runs scored in the opening contest, while classmate Crista Cerrone (Floral Park, N.Y.) led the way with four RBI. Stony Brook is now 22-7 (6-2 America East) while Hartford is 12-12 (5-2 America East).

Stony Brook opened the first game scoring three times in the first two innings. After pushing across an unearned run in the first, the Seawolves used a two-out rally in the second to score twice. Kavitsky started things off with a line drive single up the middle, followed by Cerrone's first RBI of the game, a double to right center field. Senior Kelsi Fanelli (Audubon, N.J.) finished things off with a single to left, plating Cerrone.

Junior Alyssa Struzenberg (Cooper City, Fla.) was solid in the circle through the first two innings, allowing only a pair hits while striking out three. The Hawks rallied in the third however, using a pair of walks and two singles to score their first run of the game. It looked like Hartford might pile on more, but with the bases loaded and only one out, Struzenberg buckled down and retired the next two batters to maintain the 3-1 lead.

SBU's offense would give Struzenberg some more breathing room in the fourth, starting off with a double down the right field line by Kavitsky. Three pitches later, Cerrone would line a shot over the left center field wall for her third home run of the season. The Seawolves would score once more in the inning on a pair of doubles by Fanelli and senior Kelly Oberto (Spring Lake Heights, N.J.).

Fanelli would finish her perfect 3-for-3 day at the plate with a home run of her own in the bottom of the fifth, which extended Stony Brook's lead to 8-1.

After a leadoff home run in the sixth, Hartford threatened to cut into the lead further, loading the bases on three walks. However, Amanda Sais would fly out in foul territory to Cerrone to end the inning. Struzenberg picked up 10 strikeouts in her complete game effort, winning her 12th game of the year.

After the two offenses combined for 23 hits in the first game, it was the pitchers who dominated game two. Juniors Casey Jacobs (Davie, Fla.) and Brittany Stratton combined for 4.5 scoreless innings before the Seawolves finally broke into the scoring column. Cerrone drew a leadoff walk and was sacrificed over to second before Oberto and senior Molly Kestranek (St. Mary's, Ga.) battled their way on base with a pair of walks. With two out and the bases loaded, junior Kendall Blumenthal (Frederick, Md.) laid down a bunt, catching Hartford's defense off guard, scoring Cerrone from third. That would be the only run Stony Brook would manage, however, as Stratton allowed only two hits all game.

Facing their final at-bats in the top of the seventh, Kristen Cericola lead things off for the Hawks with a bunt single. Rachel Clonick followed that with a softly hit infield single to put runners on first and second. Stony Brook then handed the ball to Struzenberg who fanned the first two batters she faced. The third, however, would single up the middle, scoring the runner on the second. After a walk loaded the bases, Hartford's fourth single of the inning plated the eventual winning run from third.

Stony Brook returns to action tomorrow, hosting a single non-conference game against Iona.