The baseball team swept both games of a double header against conference rival Albany on Saturday, but dropped the finale on Sunday. The first game of the double header was 7-4, while the second was won by a score of 8-4. Sunday”s game was an 8-7 defeat. After the weekend the team stands at 17-16 on the season, and 8-4 in the conference.
SBU scored early and often in the first game. After the second inning they were ahead 7-0. The offensive assault was led by first basemen Robert Leonard and right fielder Michael Tansey. Both were 3-3. Tansey had 3 RBI’s on the day, including a pair of RBI singles in the first two innings. Gary Novakowski scattered eight hits over five plus innings, giving up four runs and striking out five in the process. Novakowski is now 3-1 on the season. Matt Lyons got the final five outs to pick up his third save of the season.
In the second game SBU fell behind 1-0 after the top of the first, but struck back with runs in each of their first five times at bat. The offense was led in this game by Jeremy Nowak and Keith Fier, who were both 2-3 with two RBI’s. Catcher Michael Stephan added a solo home run in the third inning. Jonathan Kalkau picked up the win, moving his record to 4-0 on the year. He pitched 5 innings and allowed eight hits and four runs while striking out seven. Matt Lyons and Marc Brown each pitched an inning in relief to close out the victory.
On Sunday SBU fell behind early again, trailing 3-0 after the top of the third. After an RBI single by Robert Leonard cut the score to 3-1, Albany scored again in the fourth to restore the three run lead. SBU chipped away with another RBI single in the bottom of the fourth by Leonard and a sacrafice fly by Fier in the fifth. They tied the game in the sixth with an RBI groundout by Tansey, and then took the lead when Leonard scored on a balk.
Albany tied the game in the top of the seventh off of Leonard, who relieved Kurt Jung. Jung pitched six innings and gave up five runs, four of which were earned. In the bottom of the seventh, SBU answered right back. Chris Sipp hit an RBI double and than stole home to put SBU ahead 7-5
After loading the bases with one out, Albany was able to get only one run across on an RBI ground out, which allowed SBU to hold the lead into the ninth inning. Leonard hit the first batter of the inning, and after a fielders choice, allowed consecutive singles to tie the game. Another ground ball that was not hit hard enough to turn a double play allowed the go ahead run to score.
In the bottom of the ninth SBU loaded the bases with no outs. Three consecutive singles by Fier, Brian Witkowski, and Sipp, who led the offensive charge with three hits and an RBI, put the pressure on Albany. But a failed squeeze play left Fier out at the plate. Steve Mazzurco hit a fly ball to right field, and Leonard struck out looking to end the game.
SBU continues their season with a home game against Marist on Apr 26 at 3:30 PM.
