In another dominant display, the Stony Brook softball team kept its winning streak alive with a doubleheader sweep.
The Seawolves (26-13, 12-6 CAA) were back at University Field on Wednesday for a doubleheader against the Fairleigh Dickinson University (FDU) Knights (16-22, 5-10 NEC). On a day that saw head coach Megan Bryant earn her 1,000th career win as a collegiate manager, Stony Brook blew the Knights out 9-1 and 11-3.
In the opener, the Seawolves struck first. Leading off the bottom of the first inning, center fielder Alicia Orosco ripped a double into right field and left fielder Catherine Anne Kupinski beat out an infield hit two batters later. Immediately after, Kupinski stole second base and Orosco scored from third on the throw.
Leading off the second inning, second baseman Naiah Ackerman doubled Stony Brook’s advantage by homering off FDU starting pitcher MaryJane Limon.
An inning later, the Seawolves pushed across a pair of runs. After Orosco doubled for the second time with one out, Kupinski laced a run-scoring single into left. During the next at-bat, Kupinski swiped another bag and with two outs, designated player Julianna Sanzone singled up the middle to stretch the Seawolves’ lead to 4-0.
As she continues to cement herself as a five-tool player, Kupinski is trying to be more aggressive on the base path.
“I’ve been working on that just because I haven’t done much stealing in the past,” Kupinski said in a postgame interview with The Statesman. “I’m pretty proud of myself and I look forward to doing it more in the future.”
Stony Brook continued its offensive dominance in the bottom of the fourth inning. With the bases juiced, shortstop Kyra McFarland picked up a sacrifice fly to make the score 5-0. Kupinski was then intentionally walked to reload the bases ahead of another walk from first baseman Corinne Badger to force in another run.
In the top of the sixth inning, FDU finally broke through against starting pitcher Mia Haynes. Already with two away, right fielder Erika Barela doubled home second baseman Megan Berg to spoil Haynes’ shutout.
The Knights did not shine for long, as the Seawolves scored three runs in the bottom of the inning to invoke the mercy rule. Orosco and McFarland pulled off another double steal from the corners and Badger doubled to pick up another run batted in (RBI). Sanzone followed with an RBI single to walk the game off at 9-1.
After another offensive outburst, Bryant highlighted the team’s pass-the-baton mentality that it has displayed all year.
“We’re being very productive and passing the bat,” Bryant said. “We’re going gap to gap. We can hit the long ball, obviously, but we’re being productive with singles and doubles to extend innings.”
In game two, FDU designated player Andreya Flores homered off starting pitcher Gabrielle Maday to immediately give the Knights their first lead of the day.
However, Stony Brook responded in the bottom of the first inning. After McFarland doubled off FDU starting pitcher Mackenzie Myers, Kupinski knotted the game at one with an RBI single.
With runners at the corners in the top of the second inning, the Knights regained the lead in the top of the second inning. After breaking for second, FDU catcher Finley Caringer got caught in a rundown, allowing right fielder Riley Cunningham to come around across the plate.
Like clockwork, the Seawolves came right back to knot the game at 2-2. First baseman Chloe Montalvo and second baseman Sofia Chambers knocked back-to-back singles to begin the threat. Then with two outs, Orosco sliced a single down the third base line to bring in a run.
After picking up seven hits on the day, Orosco attributed her success to slowing things down at the dish.
“It’s just making the moment smaller than it actually is and knowing that even when the moment is higher stakes, it’s the same approach every single time,” Orosco said. “I’ve been trying to keep a simpler mindset and … hit the ball hard.”
In the bottom of the third inning, Stony Brook began to run away with the game. Kupinski crushed a solo shot over the center field fence to lead off the frame and two batters later, Sanzone deposited another pitch in the same spot to make it 4-2.
The Seawolves continued their onslaught in the bottom of the fourth inning. With one gone, Orosco, McFarland and Kupinski put together three consecutive singles to score a run and Badger followed with a two-RBI double.
With two outs, Ackerman slashed an RBI single into right field and advanced to second base on an error. Montalvo did not let that mistake go unpunished, as she hammered an RBI double into right-center field to make it 9-2.
Shortstop Brandi Mitchell homered in the top of the fifth inning, but the Knights’ positives were short-lived. After Orosco singled in the home half, McFarland crushed a two-run homer to end the game prematurely at 11-3.
Despite notching a personal milestone, Bryant credited all the people that helped her reach the 1,000th-win mark.
“That’s a lot of games, a lot of years and a lot of people involved in it,” Bryant said. “It’s a big credit to all the players, the assistant coaches, the support staff, the admins … everyone that’s involved in it. It’s been a special journey.”
In the circle, Stony Brook pitched well. Haynes tossed six innings to the tune of one run, three hits, two walks and four strikeouts.
Maday struggled early on but settled in. She allowed three runs, four hits and a hit-by-pitch across five innings.
Offensively, Kupinski and Orosco were stellar. Kupinski went a perfect 6-for-6 with a home run, four RBIs, four runs scored, two walks and two stolen bases. Orosco led the team in hits, going 7-for-8 with two doubles, an RBI, five runs and a steal.
McFarland cranked the first over-the-fence home run of her collegiate career while going 4-for-7 with a double, three RBIs, four runs, a steal and a sacrifice fly.
In the middle of the order, Ackerman went 2-for-4 with a homer, two RBIs, two runs and two walks. Badger went 2-for-6 with two doubles, four RBIs, one run and a walk, while Sanzone went 3-for-7 with a home run, three RBIs and a run scored.
In their lone starts, Montalvo went 2-for-3 with a double, RBI and run, while Chambers and catcher Emily Reinstein both went 1-for-3. Reinstein also scored a run.
The Seawolves will continue their home stand when they take on the Drexel Dragons in a three-game set this weekend. The Dragons are 13-21 this season and 8-9 against Coastal Athletic Association opponents. The series opener is scheduled for 3 p.m. on Friday and it will conclude with a pair of 1 p.m. starts on Saturday and Sunday.
