Following its Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) series win over the weekend, the Stony Brook softball team settled for a split of a midweek doubleheader against a non-conference foe.
On Tuesday, the Seawolves (9-16, 4-5 CAA) crossed the Long Island Sound for a doubleheader against the Sacred Heart Pioneers (11-13, 1-2 MAAC) in Fairfield, Conn. In the opening game of the two-game set, Stony Brook suffered a 1-0 defeat in a pitchers’ duel before bouncing back in the second game with a convincing 8-0 victory via the mercy rule to earn a split against the Pioneers.
In the first half of the doubleheader, the Seawolves’ bats fell quiet despite outhitting Sacred Heart in the contest.
The early goings of the contest saw Stony Brook threaten several times, but it was unable to get a run across on Sacred Heart starting pitcher Carah Sweet, who shut down every chance the Seawolves had. In the top of the first inning, shortstop Kyra McFarland was left stranded at second base following a two-out double and the team left a runner on in each of the second, third and fourth frames.
On the opposite side, starting pitcher Crimson Rice fired off a splendid start to the game, allowing just one baserunner across the first four innings. However, with one out in the bottom of the fifth, she made her first true mistake and Sacred Heart right fielder Morgan Teodosio capitalized, launching a ball to the opposite field that easily cleared the left-field fence to make it 1-0 with the Pioneers’ first hit of the day.
The Seawolves’ lineup failed to muster any sustained offense against Sweet. After an easy top of the sixth inning, Stony Brook got the tying run aboard thanks to a pinch-hit walk from outfielder Nicole Allen in the seventh, but it did not go anywhere. Following the one-out free pass, Sweet got catcher Emily Reinstein to fly out before getting pinch hitter Marissa Thalassinos to pop out, putting the game to bed and handing the Seawolves a 1-0 defeat.
Both teams’ offenses were kept in check for the majority of game one due to stellar performances from both Sweet and Rice. Rice allowed just two hits and a walk through her six innings of work while striking out three batters, but one of those two hits left the park, providing all the offense that the Pioneers needed.
Despite striking out one more hitter than Rice, Sweet scattered four hits across seven innings while also walking just one. However, she kept the ball inside the park and thwarted Stony Brook whenever its few chances to score arose, as the Seawolves got just one baserunner into scoring position.
Offensively, Stony Brook’s two through five hitters did most of the work, as McFarland, second baseman Naiah Ackerman, third baseman Madelyn Stepski and designated player Mia Vannelli all went 1-for-3 with McFarland’s hit being the only one for extra bases. Allen drew a walk in her lone plate appearance.
During the later portion of the doubleheader, the Seawolves’ offense woke up and dominated early en route to 8-0, run-rule win.
Contrasting the opening game, Stony Brook got on the board first and never looked back. Following a two-out single and walk in the top of the first inning, Vannelli lined a double into the right-center field gap off Sacred Heart starting pitcher Emily Heath, plating a pair of runs to give the Seawolves an instant 2-0 lead.
Stony Brook did not take long to build off the momentum of its quick start. Following a double by second baseman Daniella Sofia to lead off the next inning, the Seawolves showcased small ball with back-to-back bunts, resulting in a run being scored on fielder’s choice off center fielder Alyssa Costello’s bat to extend Stony Brook’s lead to 3-0.
With all the momentum on its side, the Seawolves’ offense continued to light up Heath in the top of the third inning. Following consecutive doubles to start the frame, Vannelli drove in her third run of the game by sending a single back up the middle. With the bases loaded two batters later, Rice — who manned first base in game two — picked up a run batted in (RBI) on a fielder’s choice to make it 5-0.
Stony Brook was far from done, as sloppy softball plagued the Pioneers. With two outs, right fielder Kaiya Simpkins sharply slapped a ball toward Sacred Heart third baseman Savannah Moore, who booted it to prolong the third inning and bring another run home.
Following the error, two wild pitches by Heath and a passed ball by catcher Kayla Roe behind the plate combined to score two more runs.
Leading 8-0, the Seawolves finished the job early, as following a scoreless fourth and fifth inning on both sides, the mercy rule was brought into effect, ending the contest prematurely to give Stony Brook the win and doubleheader split.
At the dish, Vannelli led the Seawolves in game two, going 3-for-3 with a double, three RBIs and a run scored. Allen went 1-for-2 with a double, two runs and a walk. McFarland stayed hot to build off her Co-CAA Player of the Week nod, going 2-for-3 with a double, two runs and a stolen base.
Despite both going hitless in three at-bats, Rice picked up her first collegiate RBI, run and steal, while Costello drove in a run and walked. Simpkins and Sofia both scored and Sofia’s only hit during her three at-bats was her first career extra-base knock. Stepski went 1-for-2 with a walk.
On the pitching front, starting pitcher Maddie Male struck out one Pioneer while twirling a two-hit, complete-game shutout over five innings.
Following the split, the Seawolves will head to Virginia this weekend for a three-game series with the Hampton Pirates. The Pirates hold an 11-17 record, including a 3-6 mark within CAA play, and are coming off a 4-2 win against Bowie State. First pitch for the series is set for Friday at 1 p.m. followed by a 2 p.m. start time for Saturday’s affair. The series finale is set for Sunday at noon.
