HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. – The Seawolves exploded for nine runs in the top of the seventh, and right-hander
John Rizzo tossed seven shutout innings as Stony Brook took down Hofstra 10–0 on Sunday afternoon to complete the weekend sweep in Hempstead.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Nico Azpilcueta reached on a fielding error in the first inning, but the Pride ended the frame with a strikeout.
- Right-hander John Rizzo got the start for the Seawolves and worked around two early baserunners, stranding both with a flyout and a foul out to end the inning.
- Chris Carson delivered the Seawolves' first hit with two outs in the second, and Rizzo responded with a 1-2-3 bottom half, striking out one.
- Stony Brook broke the scoreless tie in the third with a two-out rally to take a 1–0 lead. Erik Paulsen tallied his 100th career hit, and Azpilcueta followed with a double to left-center to bring him home.
- Rizzo continued his dominance in the bottom of the third, again stranding two runners after getting a pop-up to shortstop and a flyout to center.
- The Seawolves left a runner on second in the fourth, but Rizzo came right back and induced an inning-ending 6-4-3 double play to preserve the one-run lead.
- Nick Zampieron singled with two outs in the fifth and stole second, but Hofstra got a groundout to escape the jam. Rizzo tossed another 1-2-3 inning in the bottom half.
- Both teams were retired in order in the sixth.
- The Seawolves blew the game open in the seventh, erupting for nine runs. Luke Szepek led off with a double to left and was brought in by a two-run homer from Brett Davino. After back-to-back singles by Miceli and Zampieron, Paulsen and Azpilcueta smacked consecutive doubles to push the lead to 6–0. Johnny Pilla followed with an RBI groundout, and Szepek came up again and delivered an RBI single. Davino capped the rally with a double down the right field line, scoring Szepek to make it 10–0.
- Rizzo closed the door with a perfect seventh inning, sealing the mercy-rule win and the weekend sweep for Stony Brook.
STATS AND NOTES
- Paulsen notched his 100th career hit and his team-leading 15th multi-hit game of the season, going 2-for-4 with two RBI, two runs scored, and a double.
- Zampieron and Carson each tallied two hits and scored a run in the win.
- Azpilcueta extended his on-base streak to every game this season, going 2-for-4 with two doubles, two RBI, and a run scored.
- Szepek collected his ninth multi-hit game of the season, finishing 2-for-4 with two runs and an RBI.
- Davino launched his second homer of the weekend, going 2-for-4 with three RBI, a double, and a run scored.
- Rizzo earned his fourth win of the year with a complete-game shutout, allowing just two hits and two walks over seven innings. It marked the fewest hits allowed by a Stony Brook starter this season and his second outing of at least 5.0 shutout innings.
- Stony Brook recorded six doubles in the victory, their second-most in a game this season.
- The Seawolves allowed a season-low two hits, holding Hofstra to 2-for-23 (.087) at the plate.
- Stony Brook went 15-for-36 (.417) as a team, including 7-for-14 (.500) with two outs, 9-for-18 (.500) with runners on, and 6-for-13 (.462) with runners in scoring position.
- The Seawolves have now won three consecutive CAA series.
- Stony Brook improves to 19–13 all-time against Hofstra and has won three straight meetings against the Pride.
NEXT UP
Stony Brook returns to the diamond Tuesday afternoon as they head to Connecticut to face Central Connecticut State. First pitch is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.
