The Stony Brook softball team traveled to Boca Raton, Florida over the weekend to play against Michigan, Rutgers, Pittsburgh and Florida A&M in the Florida Atlantic Parents Weekend Tournament, which saw the team win its last three games. The tournament was significant as it took place during the one-year anniversary of the passing of Danielle Kemp, a former member of the team.

“This was a great tournament for us for several reasons,” head coach Megan T. Bryant said in a press release. “We faced strong competition, we competed well, we won three of four games, and we have a much better idea of what our team is capable of. Most importantly, we see real progress in all areas of our game.”

Stony Brook capped off the tournament with a triumphant extra inning victory over Florida A&M. Sophomore pitcher Taylor Pechin singled and later scored the Seawolves’ first run of the game after giving up a run in the top of the second inning. Florida A&M junior outfielder Alexis Day capitalized off a Seawolves error by scoring to give the Rattlers a 2-1 lead in the third inning.

A nearly hour-long rain delay revamped the Seawolves offense in the bottom of the fifth inning. Junior outfielder Katelyn Corr tied the game by stealing home after sophomore outfielder Jourdin Hering beat the catcher’s throw to second off the steal. Hering scored off a sacrifice bunt by senior outfielder Ileana Torres to give the Seawolves a 3-2 lead.

The Rattlers managed to tie the game in the top half of the sixth following a sacrifice fly by senior infielder Toni Anderson. The game went to extra innings and both teams looked to close out the game in the eight. The Seawolves held the Rattlers scoreless in the top half of the inning and left two runners in scoring position before capitalizing offensively in the bottom half. Junior catcher Irene Rivera won the game with a walk-off single to left field to score in Torres to give the Seawolves a 4-3 victory.

Stony Brook’s offense continued to produce in their game against Pittsburgh. The Seawolves exploded in the batter’s box by jumping to a 6-0 lead in top of the third inning. The team capitalized off three Panthers errors by sending six batters to the plate to score four runs and advance their base runners before a single out was recorded. Sophomore pitcher Melissa Rahrich and Pechin capped off the inning by scoring on two consecutive wild pitches for the Seawolves’ fifth and sixth runs of the inning.

The Seawolves added another run in the top of the fifth inning. Freshman outfielder Danielle Petrovich advanced to second base on a wild pitch after pinch running for Rahrich. She later scored off a single down the left field line by Rivera to extend the lead to 7-0.

The Panthers slowly chipped away at their deficit by scoring a run in the fifth and sixth inning. Pittsburgh attempted to mount a comeback in the seventh by scoring three runs in the seventh to cut the Seawolves lead to 7-5. Pechin substituted for Rahrich and forced the Panthers to ground out, which left the tying run on base in the Seawolves 7-5 victory.

Stony Brook bounced back from its offensive drought and competed in a close game against Rutgers. Pechin scored following a double to left centerfield by senior infielder Chelsea Evans to put the Seawolves on the board. Evans later scored after advancing to third on a wild pitch and from a single by sophomore infielder Allyssa Malony to take a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second.

Rutgers retaliated in the top of the fifth after being held in check throughout the game. Senior infielder Rebecca Hall drove in two runs off a fielder’s choice to tie the game for the Scarlet Knights. Pechin escaped the inning after recording a pop up out to keep the game tied 2-2.

The Seawolves offense lit up in the bottom half of the inning. Corr started off the inning by drawing a walk before advancing to third following two sacrifice groundouts. Rahrich came through for the Seawolves in the clutch situation and singled to right field to give the team a 3-2 lead.

Rivera doubled to center field to score Rahrich in the following at-bat and later scored off a fielding error by the Scarlet Knights to put the Seawolves up 5-2, which ended up being enough to give the team the 5-2 victory.

Stony Brook struggled in the first tournament game in its matchup against Michigan. The Wolverines jumped out to an early 2-0 lead after a two-run single to right field by junior third baseman Alex Sobczak in the bottom of the second. The team added another run when senior first baseman Tera Blanco hit a sacrifice fly to center field to take a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the fifth.

Michigan got the better of Rahrich throughout the game, forcing her to give up nine hits, three walks and seven runs, four of which came in the bottom of the sixth. The Seawolves were unable to respond offensively and dropped the game to the Wolverines 7-0.

Stony Brook and UTEP were supposed to faceoff in the tournament but their game was cancelled due to rain. The Seawolves will travel to Harrisonburg, Virginia to participate in the James Madison Tournament this weekend.