STONY BROOK, N.Y. – The Stony Brook baseball team carried a 9-6 lead into the eighth inning, but Niagara stormed back to take the rubber match in extra innings, securing a 10-9 victory this afternoon at Joe Nathan Field.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Niagara jumped out to an early 4-0 lead, scoring one run in the first and second innings and adding two more in the third.
- Erik Paulsen got the Seawolves going in the bottom of the third by drawing a one-out walk. Johnny Pilla followed with a two-run homer to right field, cutting the deficit to 4-2.
- Vincent Mariella entered the game for Stony Brook in the top of the fourth and stranded two runners in scoring position.
- Matt Miceli and Evan Goforth tallied back-to-back singles in the bottom of the fourth. After the duo stole second and third, Paulsen drew a bases-loaded walk before Pilla brought home Miceli on a sacrifice fly.
- Following a 1-2-3 inning by Mariella in the fifth, Cam Santerre drove in Matthew Jackson with an RBI triple, tying the game at 4-4.
- Niagara retook the lead in the top of the sixth, but Stony Brook answered with a four-run outburst to reclaim an 8-5 advantage. Jackson drew a bases-loaded walk, and Luke Szepek cleared the bases with a three-run double.
- The Purple Eagles scored another run in the seventh, but the Seawolves responded again as Pilla drove in Miceli with an RBI single, extending the lead to 9-6.
- Niagara rallied with three runs in the top of the eighth to tie the game and plated the winning run in the tenth, clinching a 10-9 victory on Saturday afternoon.
STATS AND NOTES
- Stony Brook moves to 1-1 all-time against Niagara.
- The Seawolves went 4-for-10 (.400) in leadoff at-bats.
- Stony Brook drew a season-high 11 walks but also allowed a season-high nine walks.
- The Seawolves recorded a season-best nine stolen bases.
- Pilla tallied three hits for the third time this season, going 3-for-4 with a career-best four RBIs.
- Szepek notched his second three-RBI game of the week.
- Azpilcueta has reached base in all 12 games this season after drawing two walks today.
- Goforth extended his hitting streak to 10 games.
- Santerre and Jackson each recorded an RBI and a single.
- In his second appearance of the year, Mariella allowed just one earned run over 3.0 innings, striking out two batters.
- N. Rizzo made the start, pitching 3.0 innings and allowing four runs on four hits while walking three.
NEXT UP
The Stony Brook baseball team will return to action tomorrow, looking to take the series from Niagara. First pitch at Joe Nathan Field is set for 1:00 p.m.
