March 20, 2011

Fairfield Box Score 

Holy Cross Box Score

Stony Brook, N.Y. - The Stony Brook softball team posted a pair of come-from-behind victories on Sunday, using a walk-off single by junior Lauren Maloney (Las Vegas, Nev.) to down Fairfield, 5-4, and a squeeze bunt by sophomore Samantha Rossi (Marlton, N.J.) to beat Holy Cross, 4-3, in extra innings at University Field.

Freshman Elise Fortier (Coventry, R.I.), the reigning America East Rookie of the Week, had a huge day at the plate with a two-run homerun in each game, including the game-tying shot in the bottom of the seventh against Fairfield.

Stony Brook (8-9) trailed Fairfield (7-8) by a 4-2 score heading into its final at-bat in the seventh. After junior Alyssa Hawley (Spokane, Wash.) initiated the rally with a one-out double, Fortier smacked her first-career homerun to left field to even the score at 4-4. Stony Brook was not finished, however, as freshman Jessica Combs (Hammonton, N.J.) pounded another double into the right-centerfield gap to put a runner in scoring position with two down. Maloney then stepped to the plate and delivered the game-winning single up the middle as Combs slid into home just ahead of the tag.

The Stags scored the first four runs of the game, but could not hang on as Stony Brook chiseled away at the deficit with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth. Junior Bernadette Tenuto (Audubon, N.J.) led off the inning with a homer to left, before Rossi delivered an RBI single to score sophomore Shannon O'Shea (Lake Worth, Fla.) later in the frame.

The Seawolves needed two extra innings to complete their comeback against Holy Cross (5-9) in the second game of the day. Trailing 3-0 heading into the bottom of the sixth, Fortier again delivered with a bomb to left-center, scoring Hawley to make it 3-2. Stony Brook then tied the game on its final out in the seventh when junior Suzanne Karath (Fishkill, N.Y.) blooped a single into right field to score sophomore Gina Bianculli (Oakdale, N.Y.), who skillfully avoided the tag at home plate to tie the game at 3-3. The Seawolves then won the game in the ninth when Rossi laid a squeeze bunt down the third base line to score Maloney just ahead of the throw.

Senior Colleen Matthes (Severn, Md.) was dominant in the circle, striking out a career-high 12 batters, including all three Holy Cross hitters in the ninth inning. Matthes also pitched 4.1 innings in relief against Fairfield and picked up victories in both games to bring her season record to 5-7. On the weekend, Matthes posted an impressive 1.35 ERA with 29 strikeouts. O'Shea led the offense with a .545 average (6-for-11) in four games as the Seawolves won three of four at the Stony Brook Invitational.

Stony Brook will continue its homestand with a doubleheader against Monmouth on Wednesday starting at 2 p.m.