After being swept in Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) play over the weekend, the Stony Brook softball team split a pair of midweek, non-conference games.
The Seawolves (6-14, 2-4 CAA) returned home to University Field to begin a five-game homestand, starting with a pair of non-conference games. On Tuesday, Stony Brook was mercied 12-3 in five innings by the Seton Hall Pirates (15-10, 5-1 Big East) before bouncing back the next day with a 2-0 win over the Iona Gaels (6-11).
In the opening game against Seton Hall, the Seawolves’ pitching staff struggled mightily en route to being run-ruled.
Both teams wasted no time getting on the board in the first inning. To lead off the game, Seton Hall left fielder Katey Brennan took starting pitcher Gabrielle Maday deep to straight-away center field, giving the Pirates an instant 1-0 lead. Two batters later, the Pirates added to their lead, as designated player Kelsey Carr launched a two-run home run over the left-center field fence following a walk to make it 3-0.
Before even recording an out, Maday was pulled from the game, as she allowed three runs on two hits — with both being homers — and a walk.
However, Stony Brook responded immediately in the bottom half of the frame. With two runners on and one out, a run-scoring double from third baseman Madelyn Stepski off Seton Hall starting pitcher Rachael Schumann got the Seawolves on the board. With two outs, right fielder Emma Scheitinger clutched up and tied the game at three apiece by ripping an opposite-field, two-run double into the gap.
Nonetheless, the Seawolves watched as the game went downhill from there.
After surrendering their lead, the Pirates fired right back in the top of the second inning. With the bases loaded and two away, Seton Hall first baseman Olivia Gilbert shot relief pitcher Jordyn Fray’s pitch into right field to pick up a pair of runs batted in (RBI).
Immediately after, second baseman Caroline Hobbes followed Gilbert’s lead and delivered another opposite-field, two-out knock to make it 6-3.
With left-hander Maddie Male in the circle for the fourth inning, Hobbes came up big again for Seton Hall. With two aboard to start the frame, Hobbes stepped up and crushed a three-run shot to left field.
Later on in the same inning, Brennan tacked on a run with a sacrifice fly, extending the Pirates’ advantage to 10-3.
With all the momentum on its side, Seton Hall added to its already massive lead during the next inning. With two on and one out, Hobbes picked up her fifth RBI of the afternoon with a single. Third baseman Jenna Blevins, also with two outs, made it 12-3 with an RBI double off Maday, who reentered the game.
The bottom of the fifth saw Stony Brook threaten Seton Hall by loading the bases, but Schumann induced a pop-up off first baseman Crimson Rice’s bat to thwart the threat and bring the mercy rule into effect, prematurely ending the contest.
“Disappointing result and disappointed with our competitiveness,” head coach Megan Bryant said in a postgame interview with The Statesman. “Be better. We’ve played some good softball this season and even when we haven’t been on the winning side, we’ve competed.”
The Seawolves’ pitching staff struggled heavily over the course of the game. Across two innings, Fray surrendered three runs on five hits and two walks while Male gave up six runs on seven hits, a walk and hit-by-pitch. During Maday’s second appearance in the circle, she allowed a hit and recorded two strikeouts.
“We’ve been trying different things in the bullpen to try and change things up a bit,” Bryant said. “We’ll keep making changes to try and figure this out.”
On Wednesday, Stony Brook turned the page and got back on track with a 2-0 victory over Iona, largely thanks to a phenomenal outing by Rice in the circle.
The game, which featured excellent pitching and defense on both sides throughout, saw the Seawolves break the ice in the bottom of the third inning. Following a pair of hit-by-pitches by Iona starting pitcher Nadia Andarowski with two outs, second baseman Naiah Ackerman drove a single up the middle to bring home right fielder Kaiya Simpkins with the first run of the game.
During the following inning, Stony Brook padded its lead. With one away, designated player Mia Vannelli got a hold of a 0-1 pitch and hit a sharp line drive that snuck over the center-field wall for her first collegiate home run, doubling her team’s lead to 2-0 and chasing Andarowski from the game.
“Just keep working,” Vannelli said. “Just have the same mindset: barrel to ball and keep playing as a team.”
Despite the offense coming through in the middle frames, it was Rice who dictated the game from start to finish with a two-hit, complete-game shutout. Rice’s control was on full display throughout the game, as she did not walk or hit a single batter, and induced several soft-contact outs to go the distance and earn her second career win. Additionally, only one Iona runner made it into scoring position during the contest.
“We all wanted this one,” Rice said. “When I found out I was starting, I just wanted to give the team everything I had and that was seven innings today.”
Following the win, Bryant made sure to point out Rice’s performance while also giving kudos to the defense behind her.
“[Rice] threw a terrific game,” Bryant said. “She got better as the game went on and I thought we did a great job playing defense behind her. We’ll take a low-scoring win any day.”
At the plate, Scheitinger was a bright spot throughout both games, going 3-for-5 with a double, two RBIs and a stolen base. Vannelli went just 1-for-5 but made her lone hit count by making it a round-tripper.
Shortstop Kyra McFarland had a nice two games, going 3-for-4 with a triple, a run scored, two hit-by-pitches and a steal.
Ackerman went 2-for-6 with an RBI while Stepski delivered one hit in five at-bats for a double, an RBI, a run and a walk. Center fielder Alyssa Costello went 2-for-6 with a double and a run.
Following up their midweek affairs, the Seawolves will look to rebound in CAA action this weekend when they take on the Charleston Cougars to finish up their homestand. The Cougars are coming off a 4-2 loss at the hands of Winthrop on Tuesday. Charleston will come into the three-game series with a 12-16 record but boast a 5-1 record for in conference play. First pitch for the series is set for Friday at 1 p.m. followed by a corresponding start time at 1 p.m. for Saturday’s contest. The series finale is set for noon on Sunday.
