STONY BROOK, N.Y - Senior Josh O'Neill made his first conference start of the year and produced the most dominant performance of any Seawolf pitcher this season.
In the 6-2 victory over The College of William & Mary (21-12, 7-5 CAA), the right-hander went a career-high 7.1 innings and struck out a career-best 10 batters to lead the Seawolves (12-17, 4-8 CAA) to their 12th victory of the season. O'Neill did not allow a runner to second base until the sixth inning, sent down the Tribe in order three different times, and four of his final five outs were punch outs.
The Seawolves wasted no time getting on the board as they tallied the first run of the game in their first time at the plate. Junior Evan Fox led off with a single and then after an out, senior Shane Paradine moved Fox to third base with a single of his own. The next batter, junior Matt Brown-Eiring loaded the bases by drawing a hit-by-pitch and junior Derek Yalon did his job by driving in Fox on a ground-out to third to give the squad a 1-0 lead over the Tribe.
After O'Neill retired 12 of the next 14 batters he faced in the order over the next few innings, the Seawolves bats would awaken in the fifth inning. Graduate Evan Giordano led the inning off by doubling to left field and Brown-Eiring would drive in Giordano by lasering a single to left field. Following the hit-by-pitch to Yalon, senior Brett Paulsen notched his first hit of the afternoon that drove in Brown-Eiring. The Seawolves would tally another run by sophomore Matt Miceli's sacrifice-bunt, giving Stony Brook a 4-0 advantage.
In the seventh, Stony Brook tallied two more runs following a single to left field by sophomore Matt DeStefano that brought in Miceli and Paulsen, allowing Stony Brook to take a 6-0 lead. DeStefano finished his afternoon with three hits which marked a new career-high for the Long Island native.
First-year student Jerek Hobb entered the game for O'Neill in the bottom half of the eighth inning. The left-hander recorded the final two-outs in the eighth by stranding two runners and allowing a run (unearned) to score. In the ninth, graduate Kyle Johnson came in for Hobb with two-outs and recorded his first save of the season by striking out the final batter of the game to secure the 6-3 victory.
STATS AND NOTES
- O'Neill earned his third victory of the season and ninth of his career after striking out a career-high 10 batters, and allowed one run (earned) over a career-best 7.1 innings on the bump. It was his first conference start of the season and his ninth overall appearance which is second on the team. It was the most punch outs in a game by a Seawolf starting pitcher since Ben Fero had 11 against NJIT last season over 8.1 innings. Also, the 7.1 innings that O'Neill tossed was a season-high for any pitcher on the Stony Brook staff.
- DeStefano finished his afternoon with a career-high three hits as the center fielder went 3-4 at the plate. Also, DeStefano notched two RBI's, which marked his first multi-RBI game of his career.
- Paulsen now has a hit in 13 of his last 14 games after going 2-for-4 at the dish with an RBI and also scored a run. It was the seventh multi-hit game of the season for the senior and 36th of his career.
- Brown-Eiring has registered a base knock in seven of his last eight games by recording a 1-2 day at the plate today. He also tallied an RBI, walk, hit-by-pitch, and scored a run in the victory.
- Johnson closed the door on the game and recorded his first save of the season. For his career, the right-hander has 45 appearances, seven wins, and four saves.
- This was the first victory over William & Mary in program history.
- The Seawolves have a record of 22-11 at Joe Nathan field over the last two seasons.
- It was the seventh time in the last eight games that the Seawolves scored at least five runs.
UP NEXT
The Seawolves return to the diamond on Tuesday, April 11, to take on Army West Point at 3:35 p.m., in West Point, N.Y. Stony Brook will look to continue their success against the Black Knights, as they are 6-1 in their seven meetings.
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