(Editor’s Note: This article was originally posted on March 25, 2017 by Tyler Marko.)
In the final game of a three-game series with Hartford University, Stony Brook struck a decisive victory in their first conference series of the season with a 14-0 win. After splitting a doubleheader with the Hawks the day before SBU stood on their home turf and made a statement in with a dominant win.
Seawolf starter Brian Herrmann earned his second win of the season with a spectacular performance. Herrmann hurled seven shut-out innings, allowing just three hits and three walks while striking out five and improving his already stellar ERA. After the game head coach Matt Senk praised the freshman starter saying, “He’s been terrific and he was terrific again today… The way he performed today is how he’s performed all year, and he’s done a great job for us.”
Herrmann was in line for the win early, as his offense came right out of the gate scoring runs. The Seawolves loaded the bases in the first scoring, their first three runs on a walk by Andruw Gazzola and a single by Nick Grande. However, the big blow that inning came on a bomb of a three-run homer to left by Dylan Resk.
The most impressive part was that Grande’s single and Resk’s homer were the only two hits they had that inning. SBU worked the count and let Hartford’s pitchers make their mistakes, tallying 14 walks on the day. “Our bats have been really patient.” Said Senk, “It’s something I think that clicked in California, and they’ve continued through this weekend and especially that first inning today.”
Stony Brook added another run in the third on a sacrifice fly from DH Michael Wilson, but the rest of the team’s runs came huddled together in the fifth and eighth innings. Jeremy Giles drove Resk in on a double to left to start the scoring in the fifth, and two additional runs came on another pair of bases-loaded walks to Casey Baker and Gazzola.
After seven innings, Herrmann left with a pitch count nearing 100 and reliever Greg Marino took over. Marino allowed three hits and no runs the final two innings of the game, and although he wouldn’t need it the offense decided to give him a bit more insurance.
In the eighth, pinch hitter Cody Clarke drove in Dan McEvoy on a double to right in what was his first at bat of the game. Hartford’s pitcher’s command was clearly off, as after Clarke’s double he walked the next three batters in a row, which brought Clarke in from third. SBU’s final two runs came on two wild pitches, bringing the final score to 14-0.
Second baseman Brandon Janofsky was the only Seawolf with multiple hits. Although every starter reached base once, and walks allowed most to get on at least twice.
It was an all-around dominant effort from the Seawolves, who move to 2-1 in the American East Conference. Early next week Stony Brook will face off with Marist in a non-conference game, and next weekend Albany will come down to Joe Nathan Field for three games of conference play.
With so many positives to take from today’s game Senk closed by explaining what he wanted his team to work on. He said, “The thing that has been most inconsistent has been our defense… [We’ll stress] continuing to take care of the ball, only giving your opponent 27 outs, and if we do that I think we’re going to be in good shape heading into next week.”
