STONY BROOK, N.Y. — Sam Turcotte continued his complete-game streak,
Kyle Johnson came up huge in relief and
Stanton Leuthner returned to the lineup with a blast as the Stony Brook baseball team continued to dominate America East competition.
The Seawolves swept UMBC, 3-2 and 6-4, on Saturday at Joe Nathan Field to improve to 13-1 in league play.
In the opener, Turcotte tossed his third straight seven-inning complete game. He limited UMBC to two runs on four hits while striking out six in a 105-pitch outing.
"I've been able to keep my pitch count down to keep me in the games," Turcotte said. "It's just been great. All my pitches have been working."
Leuthner, making his first start since the America East opener on March 26 against UAlbany, launched a solo homer to left-center in his first at-bat to get Stony Brook on the scoreboard in the third.
"It feels great," Leuthner said. "What they don't see in the box score is that even though I might not be playing, we were still working hard every day in practice. Our coaches really worked with me personally, so that helped a lot. I was just looking for a fastball 3-2. I got the pitch I wanted and I was able to do what I wanted."
Later, trailing 2-1, the Seawolves produced two runs in the sixth.
John Tuccillo delivered a game-tying RBI double. With two outs, UMBC center fielder Christian Easley then dropped a fly ball in center field, allowing Tuccillo to score the decisive run.
In Game 2, Johnson's clutch relief proved the difference.
With Stony Brook clinging to a 5-4 lead after UMBC plated a pair of sixth-inning runs, Johnson inherited runners on the corners with none out from starter
Jared Milch.
Catcher
Shane Paradine proceeded to throw out Christian Torres attempting to steal second base. Johnson then struck out Michael Cilio looking. And Johnson escaped the jam by then coaxing a comebacker from Nolan Charlton.
Johnson tossed a career-high four innings in scoreless fashion to earn his second career save.
"I'm just taking it pitch by pitch, staying low in the zone, making quality pitches and not rushing," Johnson said about escaping the jam in the sixth. "I was slowing the game down. Paradine made a great throw to second base. It was a great tag by
Brett Paulsen. It kept us in position to get out the inning, which we did."
Stony Brook had benefited from a hit by pitch, throwing error and lost fly ball in the sun to post four first-inning runs.
The teams complete the four-game series with a noon doubleheader on Sunday at Joe Nathan Field.