Feb. 26, 2011

Bucknell Box Score

Longwood Box Score

Farmville, Va. - The Stony Brook softball team opened the 2011 season with a split on the first day of the Longwood Classic in Farmville, Va. The Seawolves shut down Bucknell, 1-0, in the season opener, before falling to host Longwood, 8-0, in the second game.

Senior pitcher Colleen Matthes (Severn, Md.) pitched a complete-game shutout against Bucknell, scattering three hits and striking out two for her 12th career victory and fourth career shutout. An unearned run was the difference in the game as Stony Brook capitalized on two Bucknell errors in the top of the seventh. Junior Lauren Maloney (Las Vegas, Nev.) reached on a throwing error, before junior Bernadette Tenuto (Audubon, N.J.) got aboard courtesy of a fielding error to give the Seawolves runners at first and second with one down. Sophomore Shannon O'Shea (Lake Worth, Fla.)  then grounded into a fielder's choice to the shortstop, allowing Maloney enough time to round third and plate the game-winning run.

Bucknell committed five errors in the game and left seven runners on base. With Matthes in command, the Bison were never able to advance a runner past second base.

The second game of the day proved to be an uphill battle for the Seawolves as Longwood (5-0) pitcher Briana Wells tossed a no-hitter, while striking out six and walking just one. The Lancers methodically built a 4-0 lead into the seventh inning, before Courtney Long smacked a grand-slam to left-center to blow the game open. Matthes, who pitched her second complete game of the day, was charged with seven earned runs. The Seawolves managed four baserunners in the game on a walk, two errors and a hit-by-pitch.

Stony Brook returns to action on Sunday for day two of the Longwood Classic against Quinnipiac at 9 a.m. and Longwood at 1 p.m.