After the Stony Brook Seawolves (3-7) got shut out by Appalachian State from starting the Elon Tournament on Friday, they split their last two games with a win over Elon (4-7) and a tough one-run loss to Bowling Green (4-5).
Despite dropping its final game in North Carolina, SBU got 20 hits and allowed only 13 hits in both games combined. They scored eight runs and allowed six in the last two games at Latham Park.
Stony Brook senior pitcher Tyler Honahan was the key player in the victory against the Elon Phoenix and earned his second victory of the season with an exceptional pitching performance. He let up one hit to the first batter he faced. Junior second baseman CJ Young singled to the right side of the field and was the only offense Elon mustered when the 6-2 lefty from Parker, CO was on the mound. He pitched 6.2 innings, faced 25 batters, walked three and had seven strikeouts.
Getting his first loss of the season was junior pitcher Nick Beaulac who pitched 6.1 innings, allowed three runs on six hits, walked five and struck out two. He faced 24 batters.
Senior right fielder Casey Baker led SBU with three hits and two RBIs. Sophomores Andruw Gazzola and Bobby Honeyman each had two hits. Seniors Jack Parenty and Johnny Caputo both had a hit.
Things were relatively quiet through four innings of play. Gazzola hit a double to left center to get things going in the fifth inning, which led to a run on two hits. Gazzola later scored to give Stony Brook a 1-0 on Baker’s single to center field.
Baker then did the same in the seventh with another single to center, bringing in junior Toby Handley to make it 2-0 Seawolves. Gazzola then scored on a throwing error and Baker later scored on an RBI single by Caputo to make it 4-0 through seven. They scored three runs on three hits in the inning.
Senior Tim Knesnik came on in relief. He pitched 1.1 innings, gave up one hit, one run and had a strikeout. He faced five batters. Knesnik gave up a solo home run to junior Kyle Jackson who now has seven home runs this season.
Senior Chad Lee came in to shut the door for the Seawolves and earned his first save of the season. He allowed one hit and struck out three.
In the last game of the Elon tournament, Stony Brook was edged out by Bowling Green State in a 5-4 loss. This was the fourth game this season the Seawolves have lost by two runs or less. Stony Brook only had one strikeout at the plate, even though they ended up with the loss.
Stony Brook hit the ball well, but grounded out often, and that was a factor in the loss.
“Anytime you leave ten runners on base, hit into 19 ground ball outs, including three double plays, you are going to end up with today’s result,” Stony Brook Head Coach Matt Senk said after the loss.
Senior left handed pitcher Andrew Lacinak got his first win of the season. The 5-11 pitcher from Reading, Ohio pitched five innings and gave up three runs on seven hits. SBU junior pitcher Connor Doyle got his first loss of the season after several no-decisions. He only pitched two innings, allowing four runs on six hits.
Stony Brook drew first blood when Caputo grounded into a double play with the bases load. Caputo brought home Handley who led off the inning with a single to center field. Handley also led the team with four hits.
The top of the second inning was the turning point for the Falcons. They scored four runs on five hits. Sophomore Randy Righter led off the inning and hit a single through the right side of the field. Sophomore Cody Callaway ripped an RBI double to left center bringing home Righter. Callaway and sophomore Derek Drewes scored on sophomore Kody Brown’s single to left field to give the Falcons a 2-1 lead. After Brown, the next batter was freshman RJ Williams who hit an RBI single which brought in freshman Logan Giddings to make it 4-1.
Stony Brook scored a run in the fourth and fifth. In the fourth, Caputo led off the inning and ripped a double down the left field line. Sophomore Bobby Honeyman reached first on a throwing error by third baseman Giddings. Honeyman was credited with the RBI and Caputo scored on the play. In the fifth, freshman Sean Buckhout tripled to right center and then scored on Handley’s RBI double to left center, cutting the deficit to 4-3 Bowling Green.
Bowling Green scored a big run in the seventh that was enough to seal the deal. RJ Williams walked and then scored on a triple by senior Matt Smith. This increased the Falcons’ lead to 5-3.
Stony Brook had one last opportunity to make some noise in the bottom of the ninth but just fell short. Parenty grounded out to the second baseman but brought home Handley. Gazzola was on third base when Baker grounded out to first base to end the game. The Seawolves scored one run on two hits in the inning.
Stony Brook hosts its second home game of the season at Joe Nathan Field on Friday, March 11 against Saint Peter’s (1-6) at 3 p.m.
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