On the back of big games from second baseman Naiah Ackerman and starting pitcher Mia Haynes, the Stony Brook softball team decimated another nonconference opponent.
The Seawolves (21-13, 9-6 CAA) took care of business once again on Wednesday when they dominated the St. John’s Red Storm (21-18, 10-5 Big East) at University Field. For a second consecutive day, Stony Brook won via the mercy rule, as seven different players recorded a hit in a 9-0 win.
For their third game in a row and the fourth time in their last five, the Seawolves put runs on the board in the opening inning. With one out in the bottom of the first, shortstop Kyra McFarland and left fielder Catherine Anne Kupinski each singled before first baseman Corinne Badger walked to load the bases. After St. John’s starting pitcher Hannah Mearns inched closer to getting out of the jam with a big strikeout, she walked Ackerman to force in a run.
Stony Brook was kept at bay in the second inning, but its offense had a power surge in the home half of the third. Leading off the frame, Kupinski clobbered a home run to straightaway center field on the first pitch she saw. Badger followed with a single and two batters later, Ackerman crushed a two-run homer to left-center field to make it 4-0.
In the top of the fourth inning, Haynes’ no-hit bid came to an end with two outs. After Badger dropped what would have been the final out at first base to prolong the frame, St. John’s first baseman Anese Thompson slapped a single just past a diving Badger to get the Red Storm in the hit column.
Despite allowing just four earned runs over her last five starts, Haynes credited the offense for easing pressure in the circle.
“It’s definitely my offense putting up the numbers on the board,” Haynes said in a postgame interview with The Statesman. “That gives me a lot of confidence out there on the mound to just do what I can do and do my part in the win.”
In the bottom of the fourth inning, the Seawolves tacked on three more runs. With McFarland and Badger aboard, designated player Julianna Sanzone picked up a run batted in (RBI) by hammering a double off the top of the left-field wall.
Now with two in scoring position, Ackerman capped off her huge day at the plate by banging a two-run single into left field to extend Stony Brook’s lead to 7-0.
Ackerman attributed the major strides she has taken in her sophomore campaign to the experiences that she gained over the course of her freshman year.
“I think confidence is a huge thing,” Ackerman said. “Coming in as a freshman and playing against girls that are 22 is a little bit scary. But after I got that first year out of the way, I think that confidence just helps me and I grew as a player.”
Though the Seawolves were unable to invoke the mercy rule and walk the game off in the fifth inning, they sealed the game in the sixth. Kupinski worked a leadoff walk before Badger blasted a two-run shot to dead center field to send everyone home early.
After yet another offensive explosion, head coach Megan Bryant complimented the resiliency that her team has shown at the plate in recent weeks.
“We’ve been able to hit with two strikes, be productive with two outs and pass the bat,” Bryant said. “Offensively, it’s a great way to be. It makes it harder on the other team’s pitching to get through the lineup when you can pass it and it doesn’t put all the pressure on one hitter to get it done. I think our group is doing a great job of working together offensively.”
In the circle, Haynes was stellar. She allowed just one hit and a walk, while also racking up seven strikeouts across five shutout innings.
Relief pitcher Ashton Melaas pitched a clean sixth inning and recorded a punchout.
At the dish, Ackerman was by far the best player on the field. Her five RBIs set a new career-high as she went 2-for-2 with a home run while adding a run scored and a walk.
Kupinski, Badger and Sanzone all did damage from the middle of the order. Kupinski went 2-for-3 with a homer, RBI, two runs scored and a walk, while Badger went 2-for-2 with a long ball, two RBIs, three runs scored and a walk. Sanzone delivered an RBI double in three at-bats and scored a run.
At the top of the order, McFarland and center fielder Alicia Orosco both reached base twice. McFarland delivered two hits and scored a pair of runs through four trips, while Orosco went 1-for-3 with a walk and stolen base.
This weekend, Stony Brook will return to Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) play when it heads over to Nassau County to take on the Hofstra Pride. The Pride are just 13-18 overall this season but are 11-4 against CAA rivals. The three-game set will open on Friday at 5 p.m. First pitch for game two is set for Saturday at 1 p.m. and the series will wrap up on Sunday at noon.
