STONY BROOK, N.Y. – The Stony Brook baseball team battled back from an early deficit, taking a 5-4 lead in the fifth inning, but William & Mary rallied late to earn an 8-6 victory on Sunday afternoon at Joe Nathan Field.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Right-hander John Rizzo got the start for the Seawolves and worked around a leadoff double, retiring the next three batters to keep the Tribe off the board in the opening frame.
- Matthew Jackson wasted no time putting Stony Brook on top, sending the first pitch he saw over the left-field fence for a 1-0 lead. Chanz Doughty also collected a hit in the inning to keep the early pressure on.
- William & Mary answered in the second, tying the game 1-1, but Rizzo stranded two runners to limit the damage. Stony Brook threatened in the bottom half after Scott Gell drew a leadoff walk and Chris Carson advanced him with a bunt, but the Tribe escaped with a groundout and a strikeout.
- The Tribe pushed ahead in the third inning with a solo home run and an RBI groundout to take a 3-1 advantage.
- The Seawolves responded quickly in the home half. Erik Paulsen and Nico Azpilcueta led off with singles, and Doughty brought home Paulsen with a sacrifice fly to make it 3-2.
- William & Mary added another run in the fourth, but Rizzo kept the deficit manageable with a scoreless fifth, giving the Seawolves a chance to rally.
- Stony Brook surged ahead in the fifth, plating three runs to grab a 5-4 lead. Jackson singled and stole second before Paulsen belted a two-run homer to tie the game. Moments later, Doughty launched a go-ahead solo shot to left field.
- The Tribe responded with a three-run homer in the sixth to reclaim a 7-5 lead. Stony Brook loaded the bases with two walks and a hit-by-pitch in the bottom of the frame but could not push a run across.
- George Adams came on in relief and kept the Seawolves within striking distance, stranding two Tribe runners in the seventh after a key defensive play at the plate by Luke Szepek and Matt Miceli.
- In the bottom of the seventh, Carson delivered an RBI single to center to bring the Seawolves within 7-6.
- Adams tossed a clean eighth inning, including a strikeout, but William & Mary added an insurance run in the ninth to stretch the lead to 8-6.
- Doughty and Szepek both drew walks in the bottom of the ninth, but the Tribe closed it out to secure the win.
STATS AND NOTES
- Matthew Jackson launched his third homer of the season and posted his sixth multi-hit game, finishing 2-for-3 with two walks and two runs scored.
- Erik Paulsen extended his on-base streak to 12 games with his team-leading 16th multi-hit game. He went 2-for-3 with a homer, two walks, and two runs scored.
- Chanz Doughty smashed his eighth homer of the year and tallied his 13th multi-hit and ninth multi-RBI game of the season.
- John Rizzo made his ninth start, striking out four and allowing seven runs over 5.1 innings.
- George Adams worked the final 3.2 innings, allowing just one run and striking out two.
- The Seawolves hit three home runs on the day and remain tied for the CAA lead with 56 homers this season (alongside Northeastern).
- Stony Brook's leadoff hitters went 4-for-9 (.444) at the plate.
- The Seawolves move to 2-7 all-time against William & Mary.
NEXT UP
Stony Brook returns to Joe Nathan Field on Tuesday afternoon to host Fairfield for a non-conference matchup. First pitch is set for 3:30 p.m. and will be streamed live on FloCollege.
