WILMINGTON, N.C. — Stony Brook softball squeezed out a win over UNC Wilmington, 2-1, on Saturday at Boseman Field. The victory represented Stony Brook's 13th straight over a conference opponent, the longest active streak in the NCAA.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Wilmington took an early lead in the home half of the first. Cassidy Relay singled leading off, stole second and came around to score on another single. Seawolves' starter Maddie Male stranded a runner in scoring position to get through the first.
- The first eight Seawolves were retired before Naiah Ackerman singled with two outs in the top of the third. Kyra McFarland followed with an infield single, but Stony Brook left a pair on base.
- Stony Brook evened things at 1-1 in the fourth when Emma Scheitinger came through with two outs. Nicole Allen, who led off with a single, scored after Scheitinger's opposite-field single. Scheitinger stole second and moved up to third on a wild pitch, but the Seawolves could not push the run across to grab the lead.
- Stony Brook's sixth inning magic continued on Saturday, seeing the Seawolves snag a lead via small ball. Allen led off with her second hit of the afternoon, giving way to pinch runner Marissa Thalassinos, who moved to second on a sacrifice bunt.
- Mia Vannelli singled to put runners on the corner and Thalassinos later scored on a passed ball to put Stony Brook in front, 2-1. Emily Reinstein then singled and Malorie Hill was hit by a pitch to load the bases with two outs. The Seahawks escaped the jam with a pop up on the infield.
- UNCW started the sixth with back-to-back singles, forcing Stony Brook to turn to Gabrielle Maday out of the pen. Maday retired the first hitter then escaped the jam after Ackerman caught a liner and doubled the runner off first to maintain the lead.
- Despite putting the tying and winning runs on base with two outs, Maday slammed the door shut in the seventh to secure Stony Brook's 13th straight CAA victory.
STATS AND NOTES
- McFarland (26) and Costello (16) both extended their on-base streaks, with Costello hitting safely for a team-leading 15th straight game.
- Male notched her fifth win of the season, a new career high. She went five-plus innings, allowing a run on seven hits with a pair of strikeouts.
- Thalassinos scampered home with what proved to be the decisive run on a passed ball in the sixth inning.
- Scheitinger registered Stony Brook's lone RBI with an opposite-field single in the sixth that tied the game.
- Stony Brook's streak of 13 straight conference victories is the longest active streak in the nation.
- The win also represented Stony Brook's fourth straight over UNC Wilmington, dating back to 2023.
UP NEXT
Stony Brook and UNC Wilmington wrap up the series on Sunday, April 20. First pitch is scheduled for noon from North Carolina, streaming live on FloCollege.
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