STONY BROOK, N.Y. — The Stony Brook baseball team's record-setting winning streak to open America East play came to an end Saturday.
Maybe.*
Regardless, the Seawolves won another conference series this weekend.
After having its 10-game winning streak to begin America East play halted with a 4-3 loss to UMass Lowell in Game 1 on Saturday, Stony Brook defeated the River Hawks, 9-2, in the nightcap to begin a new streak.
The Seawolves improved to 15-8 overall and 11-1 in America East.
In the disputed opener, reliever
Josh O'Neill departed with a 3-2 lead and had been in position to earn his first career win after tossing a season-high 2 1/3 innings. He handed the one-run lead to
Brian Morrisey with two runners on base and one out in the fifth.
Morrisey then coaxed a grounder to shortstop, which
Evan Fox fielded and threw to second baseman
Brett Paulsen for the forceout.
Head coach
Matt Senk asked for an inning-ending double play to be awarded due to what he asserted was an illegal slide that included contact with Paulsen.
After lengthy discussion, the umpiring crew declined. And Senk protested the game.
Gerry Siracusa immediately followed with a go-ahead two-run double for UMass Lowell that glanced off the glove of retreating left fielder
Derek Yalon. The shot plated what proved to be the decisive runs.
O'Neill had replaced starter
Brian Herrmann after two innings. Herrmann departed as a precaution, but is expected to remain in the rotation next weekend.
Evan Giordano had hits in his first two at-bats. He then reached via error in the fifth on a play that had staked the Seawolves to a 3-2 lead.
That play snapped a streak in which Giordano had hits in seven straight at-bats and had reached base safely in nine straight plate appearances (seven hits, two walks).
The eventual defeat in Saturday's opener snapped Stony Brook's winning streak to begin conference play at 10 games. That was the best start to an America East slate in program history and matched the program record for a conference schedule. The 2001 Seawolves went 10-0 in the New York State Baseball Conference.
In Game 2, the Seawolves got right back on track.
Eight Stony Brook starters had hits in the nightcap. Only Fox did not record a hit. And Fox nonetheless scored twice, as did Paulsen,
Johnny Decker and
John LaRocca.
Giordano and Paulsen had two RBIs apiece.
LaRocca launched his third homer of the season — one shy of matching his career high for any collegiate season.
Starter
Nick DeGennaro logged seven innings. He limited the River Hawks to two runs (one earned) on four hits while striking out 10.
DeGennaro has limited America East opponents to four runs (three earned) in 20 1/3 innings in three starts this season, good for a 1.33 league ERA.
"It's an outstanding job to bounce back in Game 2 from today's tough first-game loss," Senk said. "Nick DeGennaro led the way with seven stellar innings on the mound. Also, the defense was there throughout to back Nick up, along with a strong performance offensively up and down the lineup.
"It's never an easy task to go on the road, so to win today's second game and win the series is a great accomplishment."
