STONY BROOK, N.Y. --The Stony Brook Seawolves took a 2-0 lead in the second inning and never surrendered the advantage as Colin Rhein led the way on the bump with 8.1 scoreless innings on the way to an 8-2 win over the Iona Gaels on Tuesday.
Rhein (1-2) started on the mound and picked up the win for Stony Brook (11-12). The right-hander went a career-high 8.1 innings, giving up two runs, zero earned, on two hits, allowing one walk and striking out five.
Offensively, the Seawolves were led by Matt Brown-Eiring who went 2-for-4 on the day with two doubles and an RBI. Erik Paulsen put together a noteworthy performance at the dish as well in the leadoff spot, going 1-for-3 with a walk and two RBI. Johnny Pilla also contributed for Stony Brook in the three-hole, putting together one hit in four trips to the plate while adding a double and an RBI.
HOW IT HAPPENED
After Rhein retired the first six Gaels in a row, the Seawolves put the first runs on the scoreboard in the second inning. Following the double by Nicholas Solorzano and bunt-single by Cam Santerre, Chris Carson would drive the duo in for Stony Brook with a single.
The Gaels failed to push any runs across before the Seawolves offense got back to their scoring ways the next inning. Stony Brook got across a run on Pilla's one-out RBI double, which brought the score to 3-0 in favor of the home team.
The right-hander kept the pressure on the Gaels by retiring all six batters that he faced over the fourth and fifth inning. In the sixth, the Seawolves bats heated up by scoring four runs, including a two-run single off the bat of Paulsen and a double from Brown-Eiring.
Rhein held the Gaels scoreless before Stony Brook built on their lead in the eighth inning. Matt Miceli crossed home plate with the lone run of the inning for the Seawolves, bringing the Stony Brook advantage to 8-0. Iona would score two unearned runs in the ninth, but Ty Panariello closed the door to secure the 8-2 victory for the squad that began their nine-game homestand.
STATS AND NOTES
- Rhein went a career-high 8.1 innings and struck out a career-best five Gaels hitters to earn his first career victory for the Seawolves.
- The Seawolves power output was led by Brown-Eiring, who picked up two extra base hits in the ballgame. He leads the team with 11 multi-hit games this season.
- Stony Brook's highest scoring inning was the sixth, when it pushed four runs across.
- The Seawolves had control of the rest of the game after moving ahead of the Gaels 2-0 in the bottom of the second.
- The Seawolves out-hit the Gaels at a 10-3 clip. The Seawolves are 6-2 this season when they tally 10 or more hits.
- Stony Brook went 5-for-12 (.417) with runners in scoring position.
- Stony Brook pitchers limited Iona to just 1-for-5 (.200) with runners in scoring position.
- Stony Brook pitchers faced 31 Iona hitters in the game, allowing 13 ground balls and seven fly balls while striking out five.
- Matt Miceli tallied two hits, scored two runs, and walked in the victory.
- Matthew Wright went 1-for-3 run scored in the DH spot.
- Stony Brook is 4-1 at Joe Nathan Field this season.
- The Seawolves move to 24-5 all-time against the Gaels.
UP NEXT
The Seawolves continue their nine-game homestand tomorrow as they host Fordham University. First pitch is slated for 2:00 p.m. and can be streamed live on FloBaseball.
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