TOWSON, Md. – The Stony Brook baseball team rallied from an early 6-0 deficit against Towson to take an 8-7 lead in the sixth inning following a grand slam by
Erik Paulsen. However, the Tigers went on to score two runs in the bottom of the eighth to take a 9-8 victory over the Seawolves on Saturday afternoon.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Matthew Jackson reached on an error to start the game and Nico Azpilcueta was hit by a pitch to allow runners on first and second with one out. After the duo stole second and third, Towson got a strikeout and flyout to end the threat.
- John Rizzo made the start for the Seawolves this afternoon. The right-hander allowed a leadoff homer before stranding a runner on second base to end the inning.
- Chris Carson reached on a two-out walk but was caught stealing to conclude the top of the second inning. The Tigers came back in their half of the frame and scored three runs on three hits, taking a 4-0 lead.
- After the Seawolves went down in order in the top of the third, the Tigers tacked on another two runs to force Rizzo out of the game and bring in Matthew Canizares out of the pen. The right-hander stranded a runner on base to keep the deficit at 6-0.
- Doughty reached on a one-out hit-by-pitch and advanced to second on a wild pickoff attempt by the Tigers in the fourth. After a Pilla walk, Towson got a fielder's choice and a strikeout to conclude the inning.
- Stony Brook answered back in the fifth by scoring three runs to cut the deficit to 6-3. The two-out rally was ignited by a Jackson single, followed by Paulsen bringing him in on a double down the right field line. In the next at-bat, Azpilcueta launched his second homer of the weekend, bringing home Paulsen. Towson tallied a run in their half of the fifth, making it 7-3.
- The Seawolves went back to work in the top of the sixth, scoring five runs in the inning to take an 8-7 lead. Pilla led off the frame with a walk, and after a Brett Davino single, Carson reached on a fielder's choice that allowed Pilla to score. A few batters later, Paulsen launched a grand slam to put Stony Brook ahead.
- Canizares tossed a scoreless sixth, stranding a runner on second to end the frame.
- After the Seawolves went down in order in the top of the seventh, Canizares allowed a one-out triple that brought George Adams into the game. The left-hander stranded the runner on third with a strikeout and popout to end the frame.
- The Tigers held the Seawolves scoreless in the top of the eighth before scoring two runs in the bottom of the inning, taking a 9-8 lead and ultimately securing the one-run victory.
STATS AND NOTES
- Paulsen had a career-high five RBI, launching his eighth homer of the season as he went 2-for-5 with a grand slam and two runs scored. He has now reached base in 15 straight games, his second-longest streak of the season (19).
- Azpilcueta has homered in back-to-back games and leads the CAA after hitting his 17th of the year this afternoon.
- Pilla and Miceli each scored a run.
- Jackson has now reached base in five straight games, picking up a hit this afternoon and scoring two runs.
- J. Rizzo made the start, allowing five runs over 2.2 innings.
- Canizares made an impact out of the bullpen, tossing 3.2 innings and allowing one run while striking out three.
- The Seawolves went 4-for-12 (.333) with runners on base.
- Seven of Stony Brook's eight runs came with two outs.
- Stony Brook moves to 4-5 all-time against Towson.
NEXT UP
The Stony Brook baseball team will face the Tigers tomorrow afternoon for the third and final game of the three-game set. First pitch is set for 1:00 p.m. and will be streamed live on FloCollege.
