Baseball Drops Game One To Stony Brook, 6-3
BOX SCORE
ALBANY, N.Y – Despite a furious rally in the bottom of the ninth in which the University at Albany baseball team scored two runs and had the winning run at the plate, the visiting Stony Brook Seawolves captured the victory, 6-3, in game one of the weekend series Saturday at Varsity Field.
UAlbany starter Kevin Archbold (1-3) took the loss, throwing five and two-thirds innings, allowing four runs and seven hits, while striking out five. Out of the pen, Andrew Jaurique tossed the final 3.1 frames, allowing two runs (one earned) and four hits with one strikeout.
Offensively, the Great Danes totaled six hits, led by sophomore Evan Harasta’s 2-for-2 effort with three walks and an RBI, as well as senior Brian Bullard’s 2-for-4 day with a run scored. Senior Josh Nethaway and junior Craig Lepre logged the squad’s other two hits.
Stony Brook took an early 3-0 lead in the top of the first, as Robert Chavarria and Cole Peragine drew back-to-back walks at the top of the order. Kevin Krause took advantage with a double to right-center, plating two. With two outs, Krause came home on Johnny Caputo’s RBI single to left.
The Seawolves added another run in the fifth when Peragine recorded an infield single, advanced on a wild pitch and scored on Krause’s double to left-centerfield.
UAlbany got on the board in the bottom of the sixth, taking advantage of some wild pitching by starter Brandon McNitt. With one out, Nethaway reached on a fielder’s choice and then sauntered all the way around the bases, as Harasta and Lepre drew back-to-back walks, and Richard Bacon recorded an RBI on a full count hit by pitch. However, reliever Bryan Tatelman logged a strikeout to end the side, leaving three stranded.
Stony Brook crossed the plate once in the seventh on Caputo’s RBI double down the left filed line, and once again in the eighth on Peragine’s RBI sacrifice bunt to take a 6-1 advantage.
In the bottom of the ninth, Jeff VonMoser sparked UAlbany’s rally with a leadoff walk. With one out, UAlbany’s next four batters reached safely, as Bullard singled through the left side, Hoagboon took a plunk, Nethaway singled straight up the middle, plating one, and Harasta drew an RBI walk. However, with the winning run at the plate, Stony Brook closer Cameron Stone chalked a strikeout and a groundout, picking up his seventh save of the season.
McNitt (4-1) earned the win, throwing 5.2 frames, allowing one run, two hits, four walks, while striking out seven.
UAlbany (7-24, 4-12) and Stony Brook (23-14, 9-3) will conclude the America East Conference series Sunday with a doubleheader beginning at noon.
