April 5, 2012

Stony Brook, N.Y. - The Stony Brook University baseball team kicks off America East play this weekend with a three-game series against the Binghamton Bearcats at Joe Nathan Field. The teams open with a doubleheader Friday before playing a single game on Saturday. First pitch both days is set for noon. The defending America East regular season champions, Stony Brook was picked to win the conference in the preseason coaches poll.

Last time out: Stony Brook rolled to a 9-0 victory over the Fairleigh Dickinson Knights on Wednesday at Joe Nathan Field as seven Seawolves pitchers combined on a seven-hit shutout. Stony Brook improves to 17-8 with the victory. Sophomore Bryan Tatelman (South Windsor, Conn.) struck out five in 2.0 innings to pick up the victory. Sophomore Josh Barry (Seaford, N.Y.) pitched the final 2.0 frames for the Seawolves, who struck out 12 FDU batters. Junior Tanner Nivins (Kitchener, Ontario) and sophomore Michael Hubbard (Northridge, Calif.) each hit inside-the park home runs to lead the Stony Brook offense. Senior Sal Intagliata (Franklin Square, N.Y.) added two hits and an RBI.

Seawolves News & Notes: The Seawolves tied an America East record with 22 conference wins in 2011 ... Stony Brook leads the America East in ERA, batting average and fielding percentage ... junior third baseman Willie Carmona is on an 18-game hitting streak ... he also tied his career-high with his sixth home run of the season in Wednesday's win over Fairleigh Dickinson ... senior right-hander Tyler Johnson set a program record with his 26th career victory last Sunday against NYIT ... Jon Lewis `05 and Nick Tropeano held the previous record ... Johnson went 5-0 with an America East best 0.95 ERA during conference play last season.

Scouting Binghamton: The Bearcats were picked fourth in the America East preseason coaches poll. Binghamton dropped its first six games of the season but then won seven of its next eight. BU is coming off a loss to Penn State on Wednesday. Freshman Zach Blanden is hitting .407 to lead the Bearcats offense while the Binghamton pitching staff is allowing just over 4.5 runs per game.