HEMPSTEAD N.Y. – Nico Azpilcueta launched his 13th homer of the season, tying the CAA lead, in the top of the fourth inning to give Stony Brook a 7–5 lead and ultimately a two-run victory over Hofstra to secure the series win at University Field.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- With two outs in the first inning, Azpilcueta doubled to left-center, but the Pride escaped the jam with a strikeout to end the frame.
- Ty Panariello took the mound for the Seawolves and worked around a one-out walk in the bottom half, keeping the game scoreless after one.
- Stony Brook erupted for four runs with two outs in the second, jumping out to a 4–0 lead. Matt Miceli drove in Chris Carson with a single to center, and Nick Zampieron followed with an RBI double to right-center to score Brett Davino. Erik Paulsen kept the rally rolling with a two-RBI single, bringing home Zampieron and Miceli.
- Panariello responded with a clean 1-2-3 inning in the bottom of the second.
- Johnny Pilla led off the third with a single and later swiped third base, but Hofstra stranded him with a strikeout to end the threat.
- The Pride answered in the bottom of the third, putting up five runs on five hits to grab a 5–4 lead.
- Miceli opened the fourth with a walk, and after Paulsen drew another free pass, Azpilcueta turned the momentum right back, crushing a three-run blast to left-center to give the Seawolves a 7–5 advantage.
- Hofstra threatened in the bottom of the fourth by loading the bases, but Jacob Pedersen entered in relief and got a flyout to right and a fielder's choice to escape unscathed.
- Stony Brook got a runner to second with two outs in the fifth but couldn't add to the lead. In the bottom half, Pedersen stranded two more runners by inducing a 6-4-3 double play to end the inning.
- The Seawolves went down in order in the sixth, but Luke Szepek cut down a Hofstra runner at second base to close the inning and hold the lead.
- Both teams were retired in order in the seventh. The Seawolves managed a single in the eighth before Pedersen tossed another 1-2-3 frame to head into the ninth with the lead intact.
- Pedersen sealed the win in style, retiring the side in order to lock up the 7–5 road victory.
STATS AND NOTES
- Azpilcueta is now tied for the CAA lead after launching his 13th home run of the season. He also tallied two doubles, three RBI, and scored a run in the win. He has reached base in every game this year and now has three games with at least three hits, along with 14 multi-hit performances.
- Zampieron notched his first career extra-base hit, going 2-for-4 with a double, an RBI, and a run scored.
- Paulsen delivered his sixth multi-RBI game of the season and extended his hitting streak to a team-best six games, finishing 1-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored.
- Miceli recorded a hit, an RBI, two runs, and drew two walks in the win.
- Pedersen earned his second victory of the season with a career-high 5.2 innings of scoreless relief. He allowed just two hits, walked none, and struck out four.
- Stony Brook moves to 18–13 all-time against Hofstra and has now won the last three meetings against the Pride.
NEXT UP
The Seawolves go for the series sweep tomorrow afternoon as they face Hofstra in the finale at University Field. First pitch is set for noon and the game will be streamed live on FloCollege.
