NEWARK, Del. – The Stony Brook baseball team jumped out to an early 1-0 advantage, but an eight-run outburst in the third inning by Delaware ultimately propelled the Blue Hens to an 8-1 victory in the series opener on Friday afternoon, marking the start of CAA play for the Seawolves.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Erik Paulsen extended his on-base streak to all 19 games this season by recording a hit in the first inning. However, the Blue Hens turned a double play to end the top half of the frame.
- Eddie Smink took the mound for Stony Brook, striking out the first batter he faced and stranding a runner to keep Delaware scoreless through one.
- The Seawolves struck first in the second inning, as Nico Azpilcueta led off with a walk and Matthew Jackson followed with an RBI double to put Stony Brook ahead 1-0.
- After Smink stranded a runner in the second, the Seawolves applied pressure again in the third, loading the bases with two outs, but they were unable to push another run across.
- Delaware responded emphatically in the bottom of the third, plating eight runs behind two home runs to seize an 8-1 lead.
- Nicholas Rizzo entered the game in relief for Stony Brook in the fourth and tossed a perfect 1-2-3 inning. He followed up in the fifth by stranding two runners, keeping the deficit at 8-1.
- Ty Panariello took over in the sixth and struck out all three batters he faced. He continued his dominance by retiring the side in order in both the seventh and eighth innings.
- Luke Szepek collected a one-out single in the seventh and advanced to second, but Delaware escaped the inning with a strikeout.
- In the ninth, Szepek added another single, and Matt Miceli was hit by a pitch to put two runners on with two outs. However, the Blue Hens closed out the game with a flyout, securing the 8-1 win.
STATS AND NOTES
- Jackson drove in Stony Brook's lone run, going 1-for-3 with a double and a walk. His batting average now stands at .395, and he has recorded a hit in four of his last five games.
- Paulsen and Azpilcueta extended their on-base streaks to all 19 games this season. Paulsen contributed a hit and a walk, while Azpilcueta drew two walks in the contest.
- Carson and Miceli each tallied a hit.
- Rizzo recorded his first scoreless outing of the season, tossing 2.0 innings while allowing just one hit and striking out two.
- Szepek notched his third multi-hit game of the season, his second in the last three games, finishing 2-for-4.
- Panariello extended his scoreless appearance streak to four, pitching 3.0 flawless innings with a season-high four strikeouts, allowing no baserunners.
- Stony Brook moves to 3-7 all-time against Delaware.
NEXT UP
Stony Brook returns to action tomorrow afternoon for the second game of the weekend series against Delaware. First pitch is set for 2:00 p.m. and can be streamed live on FloBaseball.
