BINGHAMTON, N.Y. — The Stony Brook baseball team did not let up after clinching the America East regular-season title.
Evan Fox drove in three runs and
Jared Milch had a strong showing on the mound in Game 1 and the Seawolves went on to eliminate Binghamton from postseason contention with 7-1 and 15-3 wins against the Bearcats on Friday at Rumbletown Stadium, home of the New York Mets' Double-A affiliate.
Stony Brook improved to 28-16 overall and 24-9 against America East foes.
That's the most America East wins ever by any program in a single season, although the previous high for conference games played in a season had been 30 in 2013.
In the opener, Fox opened the scoring with an RBI double to cap a nine-pitch at-bat in the second inning. Stony Brook proceeded to produce four runs in the frame, with
Brett Paulsen adding an RBI double,
Cole Durkan with a run-scoring groundout and
Chris Hamilton with an RBI single.
Jared Milch limited Binghamton to one unearned run on four hits and two walks in a 78-pitch effort spanning six innings. He stranded the bases loaded in the fourth and then coaxed double-play grounders to end his final two frames.
John LaRocca went 2-for-3 with a walk and scored three times.
Johnny Decker made his first appearance in five weeks, pinch-hitting in the seventh inning as he works back from injury.
Coach
Matt Senk experimented with his lineup, using
Stanton Leuthner in the leadoff spot and moving
Evan Giordano — who had been cemented in the top position throughout conference play — as the No. 3 hitter.
Stony Brook never trailed in Game 2. LaRocca delivered a two-run singled and Fox followed with an RBI single in a three-run first.
The Seawolves blew open the game with an eight-run seventh that included Leuthner's three-run double and capped by
Idris Carter's RBI triple.
Stony Brook will complete itsregular season with a noon doubleheader at Binghamton on Saturday. The Seawolves then host the conference tournament at Joe Nathan Field beginning next Thursday, with 11 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. games daily for the opening three days.
