For the second consecutive week, the Seawolves (2-4) dropped a series on the road in the state of Louisiana, this time to the Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns (4-3).
The weekend got off to a dreary start Friday evening, as the Seawolves jumped out to an early 3-0 lead, before allowing seven unanswered runs en route to a 7-3 defeat. Things fell apart for ace Tyler Honahan in the fifth inning, as he allowed three runs in that frame alone.
Tagged with the loss was reliever Chad Lee, who allowed four earned runs in the sixth inning, putting Stony Brook in a four-run hole it could not crawl out of.
Due to the weather expected on Sunday, the series finale was moved up to Saturday evening, making for the Seawolves’ first doubleheader of the year.
There would be no letdown from the pitching staff during the two games on Saturday, as they allowed a combined three runs.
The first of those to be stealthy was sophomore Daniel Zamora, who had his second-consecutive impressive start. He retired the first 14 batters he would face before polishing off six innings of work, also striking out seven batters and allowing just a single run.
In relief, side-winding freshman left-hander Teddy Rodliff slammed the door going the final three frames while allowing just a single hit and walk, with no runners crossing the plate for the three-inning save.
The early game would be the only one of the series where the Seawolves’ bats came out scorching. Seven of the nine starters got hits, including multi-hit efforts from junior Jack Parenty and senior Cole Peragine.
The name of the game was making contact, as Stony Brook struck out just twice the entire game, forcing the Ragin’ Cajuns into making three errors on the defensive side of the ball en route to a 4-1 victory that evened up the series.
In the rubber match, the lack of punch in the Seawolves’ bats came back to bite them.
Mustering just three hits in their second game of the day, one run was not enough cushion for the pitching, no matter how stingy they were.
Charged with the loss was junior Edwin Corniel, but it was sophomore closer Cameron Stone who gave up the game-clinching hit in the bottom of the eighth, leading to the Seawolves’ 2-1 loss.
It was the second-consecutive convincing start from junior Tim Knesnik, who tossed four innings and allowed just three hits and two walks, along with just one run, as he earned a no decision.
The only Seawolf to have a hit in all three games was senior second baseman Robert Chavarria. After an opening weekend where the lineup featured no changes, the same remained true in the second consecutive weekend in Louisiana.
Next up for Stony Brook is a journey down to Gainesville, Fla., for a collision with the national powerhouse Florida Gators. After losing their first two series, the Seawolves will be matched up with a top-5 Gators squad.
