Written by Jim Ferchland
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| Photo Credit: Jim Ferchland |
The Stony Brook Seawolves have struggled 18 games into the season–as they sit at 8-10. However, the Sacred Heart Pioneers have an abundance of work to do as they sit at the bottom of the standings at 1-14. Stony Brook and the cold rain were not doing the Pioneers any favors as Stony Brook took down Sacred Heart 8-4 in 6 ½ innings. The game was shortened due to inclement weather.
Stony Brook’s junior right-handed pitcher Tim Knesik made his fifth start on the mound today. He struggled through 1.1 innings and was relieved by Nick DiEva, who received the win with 2.2 shutout innings of relief.
Sacred Heart’s six-foot nine-inch junior pitcher Connor Landers only pitched one inning and it was a sure nightmare. He was lit up by the Sea Wolves– he allowed seven runs on5 hits, 5 walks, while striking out one as Stony Brook pretty much annihilated him in the first inning.
Landers season may not want to be one he remembers or at least one he may want to learn from it. He faces a 0-3 record in 4 appearances, he has 8 strikeouts, pitched 11.1 innings and has an ERA of 13.50. He faced 14 batters and threw 54 pitches in one inning. The 1st inning took 45 minutes to complete.
Cole Peragine, Stony Brook’s senior catcher has the highest OBP on the roster at .432. He went 2 for 2 with 2 singles and 2 walks today against the Pioneers. He was the catalyst to high-powered offense in the first inning.
“It was a big game”, Peragine said after the game. “We are trying get a winning streak going after a tough lost last week against Creighton. We wanted to come out strong and we did that in the first inning.”
Stony Brook erupted in the 1st inning putting up seven runs all from singles. Stony Brook’s junior outfielder Jack Parenty put the Seawolves up early in the third at-bat in the inning. He hit a RBI single to center bringing home Peragine from third. Two batters later, junior third baseman Johnny Caputo brought home Parenty and Andruw Gazzola. Three batters later after a Malcolm Nochmanoff strikeout, sophomore first baseman Casey Baker hit a 2-RBI single that brought home Caputo and Bobby Honeyman to give the Seawolves a 5-0 lead. Lastly, sophomore right fielder Toby Handley on his second at bat of the 1st inning, hit ripped a 2-RBI single to drive in Baker and Peragine.
After allowing a barrage of runs in the 1st, Sacred Heart responded with a few runs. Junior outfielder Jayson Sullivan started off the inning with a single to left field. Three batters later, sophomore catcher Jake Friar drove in Sullivan with single to center field. Next at bat, senior left fielder Keaton Flint got base thanks to a sacrifice bunt which got the force out at home forbidding sophomore Keith Klebart to score. Overall, the Sacred Hearts were able to produce three runs in the 2nd to trim their deficit with an RBI single by Dan Shock just outreaching Bobby Honeyman.
The top of the 5th inning for Sacred Heart involved a Zach Short line drive solo home run to left field off Stony Brook’s Edwin Corniel. Although, Sacred Heart was lucky to get a run but they also let up a run because their pitchers could not throw the ball over the plate. Sacred Heart freshman pitcher Matt Cooney threw four straight walks. Cooney also struck out 3 and gave up 1 run.
The bottom half of the sixth came and the umpires realized the rain was picking up and decided to call the game, which did not please Head Coach Matt Senk.
“I’m pleased with the fact that we ended up winning, but we’re early in the year and we’re still trying to figure some things out with our pitching staff and there’s never enough at bats,” said Senk. “It’s about playing as much as possible,” he added.
“I’m pleased with the fact that we ended up winning, but we’re early in the year and we’re still trying to figure some things out with our pitching staff and there’s never enough at bats,” said Senk. “It’s about playing as much as possible,” he added.
