Baseball Eliminated By Seawolves, 3-1, In Conference Tournament

BOX SCORE  I  SEASON STATS  I  AMERICA EAST CHAMPIONSHIP CENTRAL

LOWELL, Mass. – Trailing, 3-1, with no outs and runners on first and third in the bottom of the ninth, the University at Albany baseball team looked to keep the season alive for at least another day with walk-off heroics. However, Stony Brook forced three straight outs, including a game-ending double play, eliminating the Great Danes from the America East Conference Tournament, Thursday night at LeLacheur Park.  

While Stony Brook will move on to play the loser of tonight's Maine-Binghamton game, UAlbany's season comes to an end with a 23-25-1 overall record.

Stony Brook broke onto the board in the top of the second, as Joshua Mason reached on a throwing error and scored on Johnny Caputo's RBI single up the middle.

The Great Danes threatened in the bottom of the third, as Joey Tracy recorded the first hit off Stony Brook starter Brandon McNitt. Tracy moved to second, tagging on Nolan Gaige's fly ball to deep left field, but was thrown out at the plate on Brian Bullard's single to left, ending the side.

In the fourth, the Seawolves added another unearned run, as Caputo singled up the middle and scored on a misplayed ball at shortstop, taking a 2-0 advantage.

Fighting to keep the season alive, UAlbany broke onto the board in the bottom of the fifth with a two-out rally. Tracy reached base on an error at third. McNitt then issued consecutive walks to Gaige and Bullard, loading the bases. Senior Greg Muller took advantage with a liner up the middle, stopped by shortstop Cole Peragine, allowing Tracy to score.

With both starters still going strong heading into the eighth, a sudden downpour of rain forced the teams to clear the field and the tarp to be laid out. After a 58-minute rain delay, play resumed forcing pitching changes on both fronts.

Kevin Archbold took the mound for UAlbany and sat the Seawolves down in order. Reliever Chad Lee for Stony Brook also faced the minimum in the bottom half of the frame after a walk, double play, and fly out.

Stony Brook added an insurance run in the top of the ninth, as Mason and Caputo lined back-to-back singles to right field to lead things off. Anthony Italiano moved the runners up on a fielder's choice sacrifice bunt, in which all runners were called safe, loading the bases. With no outs, Brett Tenuto knocked home Mason with a sac fly to right. After a one-hopper out to first and a bases-loading walk, Gaige made a diving catch in centerfield, ending the rally and limiting the damage.

Trailing, 3-1, D.J. Hoagboon sparked a Great Dane rally in the bottom of the ninth, lining a single up the middle. Senior pinch hitter Luke Burns ripped a liner to right field, moving Hoagboon to third and bringing the winning run to the plate. However, Stony Brook's Joshua Mason closed the game, forcing a fly out to right and a game-ending  6-4-3 double play.

McNitt (4-6) earned the win, allowing one unearned run and five hits, striking out four in seven innings of work. Mason (4) earned the save, facing the final two batters of the game.

Pitching very well in his final career start, senior Austin Chase (6-5) took the loss, allowing two unearned runs, six hits, and struck out three in seven full frames. Out of the pen, Archbold tossed two innings, allowing one run, two hits, and struck out one.

Offensively, the Great Danes recorded seven hits as a team, logged by seven different players.