Feb. 17, 2012
Box Score
Charlotte, N.C. - The Stony Brook softball team split its first two games of the season on Friday at the Charlotte Classic, defeating Middle Tennessee State, 8-6, and falling to host Charlotte, 5-3.
In the first game of the day, freshman Allison Cukrov (Irvine, Calif.) made her first collegiate start against the host 49ers and pitched well at the outset, holding Charlotte scoreless into the fifth inning. The 49ers offense finally came to life in the top of the frame, however, pounding out three runs on five hits to take a 3-0 advantage.
Stony Brook trimmed the deficit to 3-2 in the bottom half of the fifth with some timely hitting. Junior Gina Bianculli (Oakdale, N.Y.) led off with a double to left and advanced to third following a sacrifice bunt. Senior Alyssa Hawley (Spokane, Wash.) then drove in Bianculli with an infield single to third base to plate the Seawolves' first run of the year. Hawley promptly swiped second base and then trotted home on an RBI single by senior Suzanne Karath (Fishkill, N.Y.).
Charlotte struck back in the top of the sixth with two more runs to push the lead to 5-2, before Stony Brook responded again in the bottom of the inning when Bianculli doubled in freshman Shayla Giosia (Runnemede, N.Y.).
Cukrov was dealt the loss in the opener, despite fanning four batters and walking just two.
In the second game against Middle Tennessee, Stony Brook's offense came to life early to give the team a boost. After three straight singles to open the game, a costly fielding error at third base afforded the Seawolves two runs out of the gate. Sophomore Nicole Schieferstein (Seaford, N.Y.) then delivered a clutch two-out single into left field, scoring two more to put Stony Brook up 4-0 in the first.
The Blue Raiders chewed away at the deficit and eventually went in front 5-4 after plating runs in the second, third and fourth innings off Stony Brook pitchers Alexandra Clark (Warsaw, Va.) and Christine Lucido (Melville, N.Y.).
Undeterred, the Seawolves battled right back with three runs in the fifth to go back in front 7-5. Bianculli started the rally with an RBI single to center, before sophomore Jessica Combs (Hammonton, N.J.) knocked in two more with a drive into center field.
After the teams traded runs to make it 8-6 Seawolves, Cukrov got the call out of the bullpen to close the game, and close the game she did. The freshman coolly set down six of the seven batters she faced to pick up her first collegiate save and preserve the victory for Stony Brook.
Karath led the team with four hits on the day, while Schieferstein and senior Bernadette Tenuto (Audubon, N.J.) each produced three hits over the course of the doubleheader.
The Seawolves return to action on Saturday against Kansas at 10 a.m.
