STONY BROOK, N.Y. – The Stony Brook softball team was narrowly edged by St. John's, 2-0, in nine innings at University Field on Wednesday afternoon. The Seawolves received a stellar pitching performance from senior
Ashton Melaas, who nearly went the distance in the defeat.
Stony Brook and St. John's went toe-to-toe in a pitchers' duel. Melaas nearly tossed a complete game for the Seawolves as she went 8.2 innings and gave up two runs (one earned) on six hits and struck out four.
Hannah Mearns and Carolina Zamudio combined for a three-hit shutout. Mearns went the first four innings and allowed one hit with four punch outs. Zamudio finished the final five innings and surrendered two hits and struck out two.
The Red Storm scored the only two runs of the game in the top of the ninth innings when Katie Whittaker hit a two-run home run to center field. After going up 2-0, Zamudio and St. John's set the Seawolves down in the bottom of the ninth inning to secure its 10
th win of the season.
STATS AND NOTES
- Melaas went 8.2 innings, which marked her longest outing of her career. The senior has allowed just four earned runs over her last 28.1 innings of work dating to March 16, against Sacred Heart.
- Senior third baseman Brooke Dye went 2-3 at the dish with a double and a single. It was her third multi-hit game of the season and first since March 11, at Elon.
- Junior outfielder Alicia Orosco went 1-4 with a single. Orosco has reached base safely in nine consecutive games.
QUOTES FROM THE SEAWOLVES
"It was a tough loss, but it was great to see Ashton continue to get better and better in the circle as the season progresses. There's three parts to the game – today we had the pitching and defense, as the hitters continue to attack, we'll start to put the three things together," said associate head coach
Benet Higgs.
NEXT UP
Stony Brook resumes conference play on Saturday, March 25, when it heads to Philadelphia, Pa. to begin a three-game series with Drexel. The Seawolves and Dragons are set to play a doubleheader on Saturday, with first pitch of game one slated for 11 a.m.
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