Orono, Maine - Senior pitcher Alyssa Struzenberg hurled her ninth shutout of the season and Crista Cerrone blasted a home run in the second inning to lead Stony Brook to a 1-0 win over UAlbany in an elimination game at the America East Conference Softball Championship on Friday, May 14 at the University of Maine's Kessock Field.
     Stony Brook (30-20-1), which dropped a 5-1 decision in its opener against Maine yesterday, scored the game's only run on a solo shot to left by Cerrone. The Seawolves put two more runners on base in an attempt to extend their lead in the frame, but Leah McIntosh forced Vicki Kavitsky to fly out to right to end the frame.
     UAlbany (20-23) had several opportunities to at least tie the game and force extra innings. In the bottom of the fourth, Michelle Connors was hit by a pitch and advanced to second on a single up the middle by Kat Smith. However, Struzenberg got out of the frame by forcing Jessica Bergin to hit into a fielder's choice and Bailey Van Deest to line out to third. The Great Danes, who also stranded a pair of runners in the opening inning, got singles from Nicole Kothe and Smith in the fifth and sixth innings, but Struzenberg stayed in control and kept the Great Danes off the board.
     UAlbany did not give up when it was down to its last three outs in the bottom of the seventh. Kristine Bill gave the Great Danes another chance to produce at least one run by blooping a one-out single to center. However, Struzenberg induced a flyout before fanning the final hitter to end the ballgame and earn her second shutout of the season against the Great Danes.
     "The season did not end the way we wanted it to," said head coach Chris Cannata, who has led UAlbany to the America East's postseason event every year since joining the conference in 2002. "Our seniors had a great four years, and it's sad to see them end their careers like this. However, we still have a lot to look forward to with several veterans coming back next year."
     Stony Brook's Struzenberg picked up the victory and improved her record to 21-10 this year. She finished with nine strikeouts while allowing five hits and issuing one walk. In her final appearance in a Great Dane uniform, McIntosh suffered the loss and ended the season with an 8-6 ledger. She fanned five hitters and yielded six hits and one run. The senior, who was the league's pitcher of the year last season, issued only two walks.

Paw Prints: UAlbany's Leah McIntosh finished her career with 725 strikeouts, six no-hitters and four perfect games ... All three marks are school records ... She also ranks second in victories (54), complete games (59), innings pitched (527.2), appearances (96) and games started (80) ... The six-member senior class consisting of Michelle Connors, Nicole Kothe, Marissa Powell, Kat Smith, Bailey Van Deest and McIntosh helped UAlbany post a 127-73 record and a .635 winning percentage over the last four seasons.
-agate-
Stony Brook      010      000      0      1      6      0
UAlbany            000      000      0      0      5      1
     Stony Brook: Alyssa Struzenberg and Jade Clare
     UAlbany: Leah McIntosh and Kat Smith

Stony Brook 1, UAlbany 0 (May 14, 2010 - America East Conference Championship)

The Automated ScoreBook
Stony Brook vs Albany
May 14, 2010 at Orono, Maine (Kessock Field)

Score by Innings                  R  H  E
-----------------------------------------
Stony Brook......... 010 000 0 -  1  6  0
Albany.............. 000 000 0 -  0  5  1
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