STONY BROOK, N.Y. — Freshman right-hander
Brendan Disonell took the ball in the third inning on Sunday. He did not let go the rest of the way.
Disonell earned his first collegiate win with 6 2/3 scoreless innings out of the bullpen and the Stony Brook baseball team won its rubber game against Central Connecticut State, 5-2, at Joe Nathan Field.
"It's early in the season, so there are a lot of guys who have a chance to prove themselves," Disonell said. "When you take advantage of that opportunity, it feels great."
Disonell, a 5-foot-10 right-hander from Shenendehowa, N.Y., retired 11 straight batters at one point. He had inherited a runner in scoring position with one out from fellow freshman
Josh O'Neill in the third inning and the Seawolves trailing 2-0. Disonell proceeded to consecutively strike out Buddy Dewaine and Sam Loda.
Stony Brook then benefited from a pair of outfield misplays from the Blue Devils in a three-run fourth that put Disonell in position for the win in his third collegiate appearance. The miscues included a two-out error by center fielder Chris Kanios that allowed
John Tuccillo and
Evan Giordano to score the tying and go-ahead runs.
Ellis Schwartz (2-for-4) scored on a wild pitch in the fifth and produced an RBI single in the sixth as the Seawolves opened a three-run lead.
Disonell (1-0) had logged only two previous innings in his collegiate career — recording scoreless frames at Texas State and Clemson. He limited Central Connecticut State to two hits, one walk and one hit batter.
"Brendan is someone we felt could play a critical role in what we're doing moving forward," coach Matt Senk said. "And he made the most of that opportunity today. It was just an outstanding job totally shutting them down when they had some momentum. It allowed us to come back and eventually take the game."
Senk had
Brandon Bonanno warming for the ninth, but never needed to turn to the closer. Disonell logged 94 pitches.
"It crossed my mind, of course, to go with Bonanno with the way he's been throwing late in the game in save situations," Senk said. "I just felt like Brendan had them off-balance, and they were having a lot of trouble with him. I felt like he was good to go."
Stony Brook (4-9) notched its first series win of the season. The Seawolves return to Joe Nathan Field for 3 p.m. games against Iona on Tuesday and Merrimack on Wednesday.
