WEST HARTFORD, CONN.- For the first time since 2015, the Stony Brook softball team is headed to the championship in the America East Tournament. The Seawolves fell to UMBC earlier in the day on Friday by a score of 5-2, but defeated UMass Lowell in the final tournament elimination game after by a score of 2-1.
In the win against UMass Lowell,
Melissa Rahrich (Brighton, Colo.) was stellar in the circle. The junior went all seven innings, only giving up one run. The Brighton, Colorado native also struck out six and earned her 19th victory of the season.
COACH BRYANT'S THOUGHTS
"What a great effort by our team to rebound after the first game with a pivotal win over a tough UMass Lowell team. We are gritty and playing for each other. Mel was a warrior against Lowell and we played exceptional defense behind her. We look forward to the opportunity ahead of us tomorrow."
GAME 1: UMBC 5, STONY BROOK 2
- The Retrievers got on the board in the top of the first after a triple came around to score on a RBI single making it 1-0.
- The Seawolves tied the game up at one in the bottom of the second on a leadoff home run by Irene Rivera (Sylmar, Calif.).
- UMBC scored three unearned runs in the top of the fourth to take a 4-1 lead.
- The Retrievers added another run on a RBI groundout in the top of the fifth making it 5-1.
- Stony Brook made it 5-2 in the bottom of the seventh on a leadoff home run by Nicole McCarvill (Clifton Park, N.Y.).
NOTES
- Rivera's home run was her 10th of the season.
- McCarvill's home run was her second of the season.
- Rahrich went five innings in the circle, giving up two earned runs.
- Shelbi Denman (Las Vegas, Nev.) made her first appearance in the tournament, pitching in the other two innings giving up no runs.
GAME 2: STONY BROOK 2, UMASS LOWELL 1
- Stony Brook got on the board in the top of the second on a solo home run by Jordyn Nowakowski (San Diego, Calif.).
- The Seawolves made it 2-0 in the top of the third. After Katelyn Corr (Suffield, Conn.) walked and Rahrich doubled, Rivera brought home Corr on a RBI single.
- The Riverhawks got their lone run on a sac fly in the bottom of the fifth after they loaded the bases.
NOTES
- Nowakowski's home run was her sixth of the season.
- Rahrich is now 19-11 in the circle for the season.
ON DECK
The Seawolves will take on UMBC in the championship on Saturday at noon.