Stony Brook Steals Two From Softball
BOX ONE I BOX TWO
ALBANY, N.Y. -- With the top two teams in the America East facing off, the visiting Stony Brook Seawolves avenged their America East Championship loss, overcoming the University at Albany softball team 8-3 and 7-3 Tuesday afternoon at Albany Field. With the defeats, the Great Danes are now 25-16 on the season and 8-6 in the America East, while Stony Brook improved to 25-14 overall and 11-2 in conference play.
In game one, the Seawolves used three home runs to score all eight of their runs. In the top of the first, Bria Green gave Stony Brook a 2-0 head start with her two-run blast over the left-centerfield wall.
However, the Great Danes quickly answered back, as senior leadoff hitter Vicky McFarland reached on a fielding error and scored on junior Maggie Cocks' triple down the right field line. With two on and two out, Kelly Costello lined a two-run single to right-center, giving UAlbany a 3-2 advantage.
Unfortunately, those would be the Danes' final runs of the game, as Stony Brook pitcher Jane Sallen held UAlbany to just one base runner per inning until the seventh.
In the third, the Seawolves loaded the bases on a single, a hit by pitch, and a fielding error, setting up Diane Caruso's grand slam that gave the visitors the lead for good.
Alexandra added a two-run home run in the top of the fourth for an 8-3 lead.
Sallen (14-8) earned the win, allowing three unearned runs and six hits, while striking out five. Allison Cukrov came out of the bullpen to get the final two outs in the seventh.
For UAlbany, freshman Devin Durando (12-5) took the loss, credited with eight runs (six earned) and five hits, while striking out one in 3.1 innings. Reliever Mackenzie Thompson held the Seawolves off the board and to one hit, while striking out two in the final 3.2 frames.
Offensively, the Danes totaled six hits led by Liz Snow's 2-for-2 effort.
In the nightcap, Cukrov made the start for Stony Brook and held UAlbany scoreless until the seventh inning. The Seawolves took a 3-0 lead in the third, stringing together four straight hits.
They added a run in the fifth, using three singles and a walk, and tacked on two more runs in the sixth, as Bria Green touched all four on her RBI triple to right-center.
In the top of the seventh, Lauren Kamachi's solo homer gave the Seawolves a 7-0 advantage.
Still fighting, the Great Danes battled back in the bottom of the seventh, sparked by Kayla Bailey's leadoff walk. With two outs, McFarland lined an RBI single to center and Costello drew a walk, setting up Cocks' two-run double to the right-centerfield gap. However, Cukrov was able to force a pop-up to end the game.
Cukrov (10-4) earned the win, allowing three runs and five hits, while striking out seven.
Freshman Erynn Sobieski (8-5) took the loss, allowing six runs and 11 hits in 5.2 innings. In relief, Nicole Parks was charged a run and a hit, while striking out two in the final 1.1 frames.
McFarland (2-for-4) and Costello (2-for-3) led UAlbany at the plate with multiple hits, as Cocks recorded a team-best two RBIs.
With little rest, the Great Danes host Siena Wednesday for a doubleheader to be aired live on Time Warner Cable Sports Channel. The first game begins at 3 p.m. at Albany Field.
