SUGAR LAND, Texas --An outstanding offensive output was not enough for Stony Brook on Sunday. The Seawolves put up six runs, but the Boliermakers found their success late in the game to take the 13-6 victory.
Freshman Nicholas Rizzo (0-1) made his first career start and went 5.2 innings, allowing eight runs (earned) and struck out three batters. Senior Quinlan Montgomery was a spark out of the bullpen in the final inning, going one shutout inning while allowing one hit, walking none and striking out three.
In the batter's box, the Seawolves were paced by senior Matt Brown-Eiring, who went 1-for-3 on the day with a double, a walk and three RBI. Senior Evan Fox put together a solid performance as well, going 1-for-4 with an RBI. Senior Cam Santerre also chipped in for Stony Brook, putting together two hits in three trips to the plate.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Seawolves got the scoring started early, putting three runs on the board in the top of the first inning. The inning began with a Fox single on the first pitch of the game, followed by back-to-back hit by pitches from Evan Goforth and Santerre to load the bases. Stony Brook's offense would capitalize and put up four runs, including a three-run double off the bat of Brown-Eiring.
The squad then held the Boilermakers scoreless with a 1-2-3 inning from Rizzo before getting back on the board the very next inning. Senior Ryan Micheli came across after his double to begin the inning to score the lone run of the inning from a line-out by Fox, which brought the score to 5-0 in favor of the Seawolves.
Purdue would fight back in the next frame by scoring two runs, making the score 5-2. Rizzo would then hold the Boilermakers scoreless in the third, but Purdue came back in the following inning to tie the game at 5-5.
Both teams would trade scoreless frames in the fifth inning and after the Seawolves went scoreless at the plate in the top half of the sixth, Purdue came back with five runs in the inning to take the 10-5 lead. The Seawolves would answer back with an RBI single from Goforth in the next top half, Purdue would add three runs to their tally on the way to a 13-6 final, respectively.
GAME NOTES
- Stony Brook's highest scoring inning was the first, when it pushed four runs across.
- Stony Brook went 3-for-8 (.375) with runners in scoring position.
- Stony Brook pitchers faced 44 Purdue hitters in the game, allowing seven ground balls and nine fly balls while striking out seven.
- Brown-Eiring led the Seawolves at the plate, going 1-for-3 with a double and three RBI. He finished the weekend hitting .438 (7-of-16) with 9 RBI.
- Santerre finished the afternoon 2-for-3 with a run scored and hit by pitch. He ended the weekend by hitting .556 (5-of-9) with seven runs scored, four hit by pitches, and a triple.
- Solorzano tallied two hits, ending his weekend .375 (3-for-8).
- Matt Miceli, Evan Fox and Ryan Micheli each tallied a hit.
- Matthew Jackson and Jerek Hobb both made their season debut on the mound for the Seawolves. They combined for 1.1 innings, four runs, and one strikeout.
QUOTES FROM THE SEAWOLVES
"Very disappointing to jump out to the five run lead and to not only end up losing, but by the margin we did," said head coach
Matt Senk. "However, every opening weekend is a starting point and despite not performing well in all areas, we know what needs to be addressed and where we need to put in the work to get better moving forward."
UP NEXT
The Seawolves will return to the diamond next weekend when they head to last year's National Champions, LSU University. The Seawolves will face the Tigers on Friday and Sunday, as well as Northwestern St. University on Friday and Saturday.
