STONY BROOK, N.Y. - The Stony Brook baseball (8-12, 2-3 CAA) team split a Colonial Athletic Association doubleheader against the first-place team in the conference, the University of North Carolina Wilmington Seahawks (14-9, 6-2 CAA) this afternoon at Joe Nathan Field.
In the victory, the Seawolves stormed back after trailing 2-0 in the third inning by tallying seven of the next nine runs to ultimately take the 7-4 victory, which was the first conference-victory at Joe Nathan Field.
The Seawolves were paced by the tandem at the top of the order as junior Evan Fox and graduate Evan Giordano collected four combined hits, including Giordano's fifth home run of the season and the RBI single by Fox to get the squad on the board in the third inning.
Later in the game, the Seahawks would re-take the lead in the seventh inning on a home run. But, Stony Brook wasted no time responding back with Fox tying the game in the next half inning on a wild-pitch and junior Derek Yalon giving Stony Brook the lead back by singling to left-field.
Sophomore Matt Miceli gave the Seawolves two more insurance runs by driving in two-runs on a triple to right center, giving Stony Brook a 7-4 lead and ultimately the three run victory.
Stony Brook sent on graduate Jared Bellissimo to make his team-leading sixth start of the season. The left-hander produced 4.1 innings, allowing three earned runs and struck out five batters. Then, senior Josh O'Neill earned his second victory of the season after finishing the final 4.2 innings by allowing one run and striking out five to seal the win.
In the first game, Stony Brook fell 7-2. The squad was led by senior Brett Paulsen by driving in a run in the seventh inning on a laser to left field. After graduate Ben Fero tossed 5.2 innings and allowed four earned runs while striking out two batters, freshman Sadier Vicioso would finish the final 3.1 innings of the game in relief. The left-hander tied a career-high with his 3.1 innings on the bump and surrendered one run.
DOUBLEHEADER STATS AND NOTES
- Fox extended his on-base streak to 20 games to start the season after going 1-for-3 with a walk in the first game and followed with a 3-for-5 performance with two runs scored and an RBI. Also, Fox registered three stolen-bases this afternoon, which gives him 16 for the season that currently leads the CAA. The junior has now stolen 68 bases in his career which is second in program history behind Stony Brook legend Travis Jankowski who is the all-time leader with 79 career steals.
- Giordano slammed his team-high fifth home run of the season and 27th of his career in the game-two victory. With this home run, Giordano moved into sixth all-time in program history for career home runs, passing Brian Witkowski. Giordano leads the team with his .398 average this season and his 30 RBI are tied for second in the conference.
- Paulsen went 2-for-6 between both games with an RBI, run scored and drew two walks. The first-baseman is currently riding a six game hit-streak and has recorded a hit in 8 of his last nine games.
- Yalon extended his hit-streak to four games after going 1-for-2 with a walk in game-one and finishing 1-for-3 with two runs scored, an RBI, and a walk.
- O'Neill earned his first second win of the season after tossing 4.1 innings of relief in game two. Last season, he led the squad with seven victories. It was also the third appearance in a row that O'Neill registered four or more strikeouts.
- Fero tossed his fifth start of the season and went at-least five innings for the third consecutive start after tossing 5.2 innings, allowing four earned runs, and striking out two batters.
- Bellissimo made his team-best sixth start of the season and for the fifth time in a row he completed at least four innings on the bump after tossing 4.1 innings. The left-hander tied his career-high with five strikeouts.
- Vicioso tied his career-best by going 3.1 innings, allowing just one earned run and struck out a batter. Last week, the left-hander also threw 3.1 innings against the College of Charleston and did not surrender a run.
NEXT UP
Stony Brook is set to meet UNCW in the rubber game of the three-game series Sunday at noon. The game is set to broadcast on FloSports.
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