STONY BROOK, N.Y. – The Stony Brook baseball team mounted a late comeback, trimming a five-run deficit to just one in the seventh inning, but Northeastern responded with five late runs to secure a 10-4 victory on Friday afternoon at Joe Nathan Field.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Right-hander Eddie Smink got the start for the Seawolves and worked his way out of trouble early, stranding runners on the corners in the first after a strong throw from Luke Szepek cut down a baserunner at second to end the frame.
- Matthew Jackson notched Stony Brook's first hit of the afternoon with a double down the left-field line in the bottom half of the inning, but he was left stranded at second.
- Northeastern struck first in the second inning, launching a solo homer to center field. Smink limited the damage, leaving two runners on base to end the frame.
- After the Seawolves left a runner aboard in the bottom of the second, Smink bounced back with a perfect 1-2-3 third inning. He continued to deal in the fourth, working around a one-out single with a strikeout and a fielder's choice to keep the game tight.
- However, the Huskies broke through in the fifth, belting three home runs in the inning to take a 5-0 lead. Nicholas Rizzo entered in relief and induced a groundout to himself to end the inning.
- Rizzo settled in, tossing a clean sixth inning, and the Seawolves followed with another scoreless frame. In the seventh, Rizzo worked around a baserunner to keep it a five-run game before Stony Brook's offense came alive.
- Nico Azpilcueta ignited the rally with a leadoff double off the right-field fence, followed by a walk from Chanz Doughty. Scott Gell delivered a clutch two-run double to cut the deficit to 5-2. After a Northeastern pitching change, Brett Davino lined an RBI single to make it 5-3, and Matt Miceli's perfectly placed bunt single brought home Davino to make it a one-run game at 5-4.
- The Huskies quickly responded, leading off the eighth with a home run and adding a sacrifice fly to push their lead to 7-4.
- Stony Brook threatened again in the bottom of the eighth when Doughty drew a one-out walk and Davino ripped a double down the right-field line, putting runners on second and third. But Northeastern escaped the jam with a foul-out to maintain their three-run lead.
- The Huskies tacked on three more runs in the ninth, sealing a 10-4 win.
STATS AND NOTES
- Stony Brook matched its season-high with five doubles as a team.
- The Seawolves' defense remained spotless, playing their fourth straight error-free game. They lead the CAA with a .981 fielding percentage, committing just 16 errors this season.
- Stony Brook moved to 8-20 all-time against Northeastern.
- In just his second start of the season, Davino recorded his first multi-hit game, going 2-for-4 with a double, two RBIs, a stolen base, and a run scored.
- Azpilcueta extended his on-base streak to all 23 games this season with his double and added a run.
- Gell tied his season-high with two RBIs and also scored a run.
- Miceli registered his fourth multi-hit game of the season—and his second straight—going 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI.
- Smink (0-3) took the loss, tossing 4.2 innings with five runs allowed and four strikeouts.
NEXT UP
The Seawolves continue their series against Northeastern on Saturday afternoon at Joe Nathan Field. First pitch is set for 1:00 p.m., with live coverage available on FloCollege.
