April 13, 2002 – The Stony Brook baseball team (13-12, 3-3 America East) capitalizedon four errors by Binghamton (11-20, 4-2 America East) and came up with somekey hits to earn a come-from-behind 4-3 victory in the nightcap of a doubleheaderwith the Bearcats at Seawolves Field on Saturday afternoon. The Seawolves fellin game one, 6-2.
The Seawolves struck first in game two, taking advantage of a Binghamton errorin the second inning. Rob Sandora’s two-out double to left field scored LeeLipschutz, who reached on a bad throw by shortstop Brian Lindsay. However, theBearcats countered with three straight runs, the first coming two innings later.Lead-off Tim Collar smashed a triple into right centerfield, then scored ona wild pitch to even the game at 1-1. Binghamton pulled ahead in the top ofthe sixth, when Stephen Kohan’s two-out single sent two runs across the plate.Lindsay followed with a base hit to left field before Stony Brook’s Ray Zimmermanwas sent in for Kevin Willi to stop the damage.
Two untimely errors by the Bearcats and a two-out rally of its own helped StonyBrook even the score. BU’s Greg Sousa walked Dwayne Whitaker, and Andrew Larsenreached on an error by second baseman Matt Caputo. Then, with two outs, a doublesteal gave Stony Brook runners at second and third with RJ Etzel coming to bat.Etzel’s grounder was fielded cleanly by Lindsay, but the ball fell out of JamieBoyer’s glove at first base, sending both Whitaker and Larsen home.
The Seawolves held off Binghamton in the top of the seventh, as both Boyerand Tony Berube grounded out and Loucks flied out to center.
With one out against relief pitcher Phil Artonio, Seawolves catcher Ed Kullstruck out swinging, but reached first on a passed ball. That crucial mistakewould come back to haunt the Bearcats, as Whitaker followed with a double. Artoniointentionally walked Larsen to load the bases, and pinch hitter Nick Theoharriscame to the plate with two outs. Theoharris laid down a perfect bunt for thesqueeze, and Kull scored to give Stony Brook the 4-3 victory.
Whitaker and Sandora led the Seawolves with a pair of hits apiece. Zimmermanearned his first win on the mound in relief, pitching 1.1 innings with no runson no hits and no walks. Willi allowed three runs on 10 hits, walking none andstriking out seven in 5.2 innings.
Stony Brook’s Jon Lewis gave a valiant effort in the opener, pitching five shutoutinnings and allowing just one hit during that span. However, the Bearcats brokethe game open with three runs in the sixth inning en route to a 6-2 victory.Boyer’s RBI single up the middle and Berube’s RBI double gave BU a 2-0 advantage.Two batters later, Collar’s sacrifice fly sent Boyer home to extend the leadto 3-0.
The Seawolves made a run in the bottom of the inning with two outs. Larsen’sshot up the middle scored both Matt Devins and Rich Graham, but that would beas close as Stony Brook would get. Tyler McGonigal’s bunt in the seventh inningplated Jacob Thiel, and Boyer followed with a two-run homer to right centerto put the game out of reach.
Lewis (4-2) picked up the loss, allowing six runs on seven hits in 6.2 innings.He struck out seven and walked one. Binghamton’s David Eagan allowed just fourhits, striking out nine and walking one in six innings for the win.
Larsen had a pair of hits and two RBI to lead Stony Brook at the plate.
