After a tough weekend, the Stony Brook softball team mustered just a lone hit in its midweek loss.
The Seawolves (13-13, 3-6 CAA) had a rough time of it on Tuesday in New Jersey, taking on the Seton Hall Pirates (14-12, 5-4 Big East). Bad offense coupled with the pitching staff handing out eight walks and its defense committing three errors, Stony Brook fell by a final of 4-0.
The Pirates put up their first runs in the bottom of the second, as Seawolves starting pitcher Ashton Melaas loaded the bases with a trio of walks. An out away from escaping the jam unscathed, Melaas served up a two-out, two-strike opposite-field run-scoring single to Seton Hall first baseman Olivia Gilbert. With the bases still loaded, the Pirates stretched their lead to two after left fielder Katey Brennan was hit by a pitch in another two-strike count.
Stony Brook went down in order in the top of the third, and Seton Hall responded by putting up another pair of scores. Melaas quickly got the first two outs, but a walk and an error by center fielder Alicia Orosco put both runners in scoring position. Right fielder Taylor Hill capitalized on the mistake by clobbering a double to the warning track in right-center, emptying the bases and extending the Pirates’ lead to 4-0.
Head coach Megan Bryant closed the book on Melaas’ afternoon, handing the ball to relief pitcher Jordyn Fray for her first appearance of the season. After issuing a walk to put runners on first and second, Fray put the inning to bed by inducing a flyball to Orosco in center field.
On the opposite side, Seton Hall starting pitcher Sydney Babik found her groove, working in the fourth inning. With Babik having allowed just a single and a walk in the previous three frames, catcher Corinne Badger was plunked with two outs and right fielder Julianna Sanzone worked a walk. Unphased, Babik worked out of trouble by getting a groundout to shortstop.
Fray continued to notch zeroes, finishing the day with 2 ⅓ scoreless innings, allowing just a single hit and a pair of walks.
Bryant spoke highly of the freshman’s performance in her Stony Brook debut.
“Our bright spot was Jordyn’s first outing in relief,” Bryant said in a postgame interview with Stony Brook Athletics. “She showed a lot of poise and was very effective.”
Down four in the top of the seventh, the Seawolves went down in order, with relief pitcher Kelsey Carr recording the final 10 outs of the ballgame in order.
Despite the defensive blunders early, Bryant stressed the team’s inconsistent performance, namely in the batter’s box.
“We didn’t do enough offensively today to help our cause against a solid team,” Bryant said. “We will regroup and be ready to bring all three parts of our game this weekend.”
In the circle, Melaas tossed 2 ⅔ innings, allowing four runs (two earned), two hits and one strikeout. She also handed out five walks and a hit-by-pitch. Relief pitcher Mia Haynes followed Fray, throwing well in a scoreless seventh inning.
McFarland was the only Seawolf to crack the hit column. Sanzone’s two walks and Badger’s hit-by-pitch made up the rest of the offense for Stony Brook.
The Seawolves will look ahead to their next Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) matchup against the Towson Tigers at University Field this weekend. The Tigers have gone 13-18 overall and are 4-5 in CAA play after a 4-3 extra-innings victory over Morgan State on Tuesday. First pitch on Friday is scheduled for 1 p.m. on Friday.
