MIAMI, Fla. — Stony Brook softball dropped the Felsberg Invitational finale to FIU, 9-8, on Sunday afternoon at Felsberg Field. Nine different Seawolves registered a hit and six drove in a run, but it was not enough to overcome the Panthers' prolific offensive afternoon.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- FIU put five runs across in the bottom of the first, four of which were unearned and came around to score with two outs.
- Alyssa Costello homered to lead off the second inning, but Stony Brook went down in order after that.
- Crimson Rice relieved Gabrielle Maday to start the home half of the second, allowing a run. FIU padded its lead with another two-out, run-scoring hit.
- The Panthers added three more runs to their total in the third inning, all of which again came across to score with two outs in the frame. FIU led 9-1 through three innings.
- Stony Brook responded in a massive way in the fourth, pushing seven runs across in the frame. The first two Seawolves were retired on five pitches, but eight batters in a row reached base safely and cut into FIU's lead.
- Costello started the rally with a single and eventually came around to score on a Naiah Ackerman double. Emily Reinstein plated a pair with a two-bagger of her own and scored on a Malorie Hill basehit. Hill's run-scoring single made it a 9-5 game.
- Kyra McFarland drove in a pair and made it a two-run game with a triple, forcing FIU to go to the bullpen. Madelyn Stepski followed with another run-scoring single to make it a one-run game. Stony Brook loaded the bases and had a chance to take a lead, but could not push another run across.
- The Seawolves managed just one hit over the final three innings, but sent just the minimum to the plate, falling 9-8 to FIU in the tournament finale.
STATS AND NOTES
- Maddie Male pitched 3.1 innings in relief, allowing two hits and walking one. She lowered her season earned run average to 1.35.
- 10 of the 11 Seawolves that came to the plate reached base safely. Nine different Seawolves registered a hit and six drove home a run.
- Costello hit her first homerun of the 2025 season and notched her first multi-hit game of the year.
- McFarland and Reinstein plated two runs apiece.
- Stony Brook hit .636 (7-11) with two outs. The Seawolves plated seven of their eight runs with two outs.
- FIU hit .563 (9-16) with two outs and
- Stony Brook moves to 3-6 all-time against FIU.
QUOTES FROM THE SEAWOLVES
"The first three innings of this game we didn't play to our standards and let FIU beat us in front. It took us a while to make our adjustments offensively and that combination left us in a hole," head coach Megan T. Bryant said. "The fourth inning we showed what we are capable of offensively, and Maddie was outstanding in relief. We know a lot more about our young team after five games against excellent competition. We are learning to play at a high level, and what it takes to find success at that level."
UP NEXT
Stony Brook returns to action next Friday, February 14, facing Illinois and Mercer to kick off the Roar City Invitational hosted by Tennessee State in Nashville, Tennessee.
