Vestal, N.Y. - America East Conference Rookie of the Year William Carmona smashed a grand slam to right centerfield in the top of the ninth inning to lead third-seeded Stony Brook to a 8-4 win over fourth-seeded UAlbany in the winners bracket of the America East Conference Tournament at Varsity Field on Thursday afternoon.

            Stony Brook took a 1-0 lead in the top of the third inning, as Pat Cantwell doubled down the left field line to score Tanner Nivins, who was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning. The Seawolves added two runs in the top half of the fifth. After a lead-off, solo homer by Maxx Tissenbaum, Stony Brook loaded the bases, and a hit by pitch brought in catcher Justin Echevarria to give the Seawolves a 3-0 advantage.

            The Seawolves added a single run to their total in the sixth, as Cantwell hit his second RBI double of the game, scoring Tissenbaum, who reached on a single to short. Stony Brook loaded the bases with a hit by pitch and two walks before Carmona smacked a 1-1 offering from reliever Nick Sessa over the outfield fence to break open the game.

            After exploding offensively for 17 hits in Wednesday's opening-round win over Binghamton, UAlbany was held to six hits against the Seawolves. Shortstop Kyle Crean and first baseman Pete Eichner recorded the only hits for the Great Danes until the bottom of the ninth inning, when Brendan Rowland started a rally for UAlbany, getting three straight base hits to load the bases before Binghamton made a change on the mound.

            With the bases loaded, reliever Anthony Luciano hit Crean and Ralph Rizzo in back-to-back at bats to bring in two runs with no outs. The Seawolves made another change in the ninth, bringing in Michael Barbot from the bullpen, who got the first out of the inning with a strikeout to Pete DiResta. However, Nolan Gaige smacked a hit to the right side, and two runs scored on a throwing error by Stony Brook's Chad Marshall. Barbot induced a groundout by Brian Bullard to end the UAlbany rally and seal the victory for the Seawolves.

Starter Zach Kraham completed eight innings on the mound with three strikeouts. Stony Brook finished with seven hits offensively, while right hander Tyler Johnson fanned eight without allowing a run in an eight-inning performance. He faced three batters in the ninth before being replaced by Luciano.

UAlbany (12-39) will face Binghamton for the second time in three days in an elimination game on Friday at 11 a.m. The winner will advance to take on Stony Brook at 3 p.m. on Friday afternoon.

-agate-

Stony Brook (28-25)      001       021       004       -           8          10        1

UAlbany (12-39)            000       000       004       -           4          6          2

            Stony Brook: Tyler Johnson, Anthony Luciano (9), Michael Barbot and Justin Echevarria.

            UAlbany: Zach Kraham, Mike Baltera (9), Nick Sessa (9) and Ralph Keppler.

Stony Brook 8, UAlbany 4 (May 27, 2010)

The Automated ScoreBook
#3 Stony Brook at #4 Albany
May 27, 2010 at Vestal, N.Y. (Varsity Field)

Score by Innings                    R  H  E
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Stony Brook......... 001 021 004 -  8  8  3
Albany.............. 000 000 004 -  4  6  2
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