STONY BROOK, N.Y. – The Stony Brook baseball team returned to Joe Nathan Field for the first time this season in style as they secured the sweep over Siena in Friday's doubleheader on Long Island.
GAME 1 | Stony Brook 3, Siena 2
Sophomore
Eddie Smink was mowing people down on Friday, fanning 12 Siena hitters over 6.1 innings of work to help lead the Stony Brook Seawolves past the Saints 3-2.
In addition to his 12 strikeouts, Smink tossed 6.1 innings, giving up two runs, one earned, on four hits and walking one for Stony Brook (5-7). Freshman Eric Paulsen (2-0) also made an impact on the mound for the Seawolves, starting the ballgame at DH and throwing 2.2 shutout innings while allowing one hit, with no walks and two strikeouts.
Paulsen led the way offensively for the Seawolves, going 2-for-3 in the ballgame with a double, a walk and an RBI.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Seawolves got on the scoreboard first, starting in the fourth inning. Sophomore Johnny Pilla came across to score the lone run of the inning for Stony Brook and get them on the board after stealing two bases, junior Matt Miceli would drive the fellow infielder in on a ground-out.
The Saints then rallied to score two runs and take a 2-1 lead before the Seawolves got back on the board in the seventh. Stony Brook brought home a pair, with one run driven in by Paulsen's single, which brought the Seawolves lead to 3-2. The score remained 3-2 for the rest of the game, as Stony Brook held on for the win.
STATS AND NOTES
- The Stony Brook pitching staff combined to strike out 14 Siena hitters, the most against any team this season.
- Stony Brook pitchers faced 35 Siena hitters in the game, allowing eight ground balls and five fly balls while striking out 14.
- Stony Brook pitchers limited Siena to just 1-for-7 (.143) with runners in scoring position.
- Stony Brook's highest scoring inning was the seventh, when it pushed two runs across.
- Smink put together 6.1 innings of two-run ball for the Seawolves and struck out 12 Saints hitters. The 12 strikeouts marked a new career-high for Smink and the most by any pitcher for Stony Brook this season.
- Pilla stole three bases in Friday's game. It marked a new career-high for Pilla and the second time a Seawolf stole three bags in a game this season (Fox had three vs Northwestern St. on Feb. 24
- E. Paulsen led the Seawolves at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI. He is on a four-game hitting streak with three of the last four games recording multiple hits. He currently leads Stony Brook with a .419 batting average.
- E. Paulsen recorded his second win of the season, which leads the team.
GAME 2 | Stony Brook 10, Siena 9
The Stony Brook Seawolves earned a win in walk-off fashion, responding to score two in the bottom of the ninth after Siena jumped on top in the top half, sealing the victory on a single off the bat of Pilla to defeat the Saints 10-9 Friday.
C. Book (1-1) got the win out of the bullpen for Stony Brook (6-7). The left-hander went one shutout inning without giving up a hit, one walk and striking out one. J. Raab also pitched well, going 3.2 shutout innings while allowing four hits, walking one and striking out two.
In the batter's box, the Seawolves were led by Cam Santerre, who went 4-for-4 on the day with a double, a walk and an RBI in his first career game at JNF. E. Paulsen furnished a noteworthy day at the dish as well, going 3-for-4 with a double, a walk and two RBI. M. Brown-Eir also chipped in for Stony Brook, putting together one hit in three trips to the plate while adding two walks and two RBI.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Seawolves got on the board immediately, starting their scoring with one run in the bottom of the first inning. Santerre came across to score the lone run of the inning for Stony Brook to give the squad the early lead.
Stony Brook then held the Saints scoreless before expanding their lead in the third inning. Stony Brook picked up two runs when a single from Brown-Eiring scored Evan Fox and Santerre, which brought the score to 3-0 in favor of the Seawolves.
The SBU lead had evaporated once the fifth inning came around and turned into a 5-3 Siena advantage, when the Seawolves re-gained control at 6-5.
The Stony Brook pitching staff held the Saints scoreless before their offense got in gear the next inning. The Seawolves scored twice, with one run coming across on Paulsen's 2-out single, bringing the Stony Brook advantage to 8-5.
Siena then rallied to take a 9-8 lead before Stony Brook scored two runs in the bottom half of the ninth to grab the win, walking it off on an RBI single off the bat of Pilla.
STAT AND NOTES
- Stony Brook's highest scoring inning was the fifth, when it pushed three runs across.
- Stony Brook went 6-for-13 (.462) with runners in scoring position.
- Stony Brook pitchers faced 42 Siena hitters in the game, allowing 10 ground balls and seven fly balls while striking out eight.
- The Seawolves out-hit the Saints at a 13-12 clip. The 13 hits for Stony Brook marked a new season-high.
- Santerre compiled a career-best four hits on the day for Stony Brook. It marked his third multi-hit game of the season.
- Ty Saunders struck out five Saints hitters over 3.1 innings, his fourth start of the year. He allowed five runs (four earned) and gave up three hits.
- JT Raab, Colin Rhein and Colton Book all made appearances out of the pen.
- Book earned his first win of the year in his fourth appearance of the season.
- The Seawolves drew five walks from Siena pitching. The Seawolves are 5-1 this season when they draw at least five walks.
- C. Santerre led the Seawolves at the plate, going 4-for-4 with a double and an RBI.
QUOTES FROM THE SEAWOLVES
"It's nice to get the sweep and get off to a good start at home," said head coach Matt Senk. "We always talk about protecting our house, taking care of business at Joe Nathan, and it was nice to do that and get the sweep today."
UP NEXT
The Seawolves will return to the diamond tomorrow afternoon for the series-finale against Siena, with first-pitch set for noon at Joe Nathan Field.
