NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Stony Brook softball team battled until the end, but was unable to get by Valparaiso, falling 10-9 at Draper Diamond on the Lipscomb campus Sunday morning, in its final game of the Purple/Gold Challenge. The Seawolves came back from being down seven runs early to even the game, but came up just short as they now sit at 1-8 on the year.
 
Bryant's Reaction
"While we didn't come away with the win in our last game, it's the best we have competed to date," said head coach Megan T. Bryant. "We had good energy, focus and fight. Offensively, we had more quality at-bats and were productive. Taylor [Pechin] did a great job in relief, giving us a chance to win. Our team will build off this effort and approach as we go forward."
 
Highlights

• Stony Brook seemed to get out to a good start defensively with two quick outs to start the game, but a pair of singles got runners on and a single to right put Valparaiso on the board first.
• Junior Chelsea Evans (Merced, Calif.) tried to get things going as she sent a double to center but she was left on.
• The Crusaders added to their lead in the second inning, as a bases-loaded double added two runs. Two more doubles made it a five-run inning for Valparaiso as it took a 7-0 lead early. Freshman Taylor Pechin (Harrington, Del.) replaced starting pitcher Melissa Rahrich (Brighton, Colo.), making her first appearance of the year as she entered the game with two outs.
• The Seawolves started the fourth with a pair of walks and a single up the middle from Pechin loaded the bases with one out. After a pitching change for the Crusaders, Caroline Seeberg (Warwick, N.Y.) got on after a fielder's choice that saw Stony Brook's first run of the day score. Senior Sami Duffy (Carmel, N.Y.) sent a double to left to knock in two more runs. Freshman Jourdin Hering (Federal Way, Wash.) walked to load the bases and Evans sent a bases-loaded triple to center field to score all three runners. Evans also made it home after a Lexie Shue (Lakewood, Calif.) single and the Seawolves finished the inning tied at seven.
• Valparaiso quickly put two on in the sixth inning and used a double to left to regain its early lead before tacking on a third run.
• Stony Brook again had its back against the wall with two outs in the bottom of the seventh, but singles from Duffy and Hering loaded the bases and Evans was able to reach on an error that allowed two more runs to score for the Seawolves.

 
Up Next
The Seawolves will travel to New Mexico for more tournament play next weekend. Stony Brook will face Santa Clara three times and New Mexico twice with games running from Friday, March 10- Sunday, March 12.