SBU Sports: Baseball clinches series with late victory over Bethune-Cookman

Sophomore left-hander Nicholas Rizzo delivered a dominant seven-inning performance, allowing just one run, while fellow sophomore Erik Paulsen provided the go-ahead RBI in the eighth inning to lift the Seawolves to a 3-2 victory on Feb. 15 and secure the series-victory over Bethune-Cookman in Fort Myers, FL.

After the Seawolves were retired in order in the first inning, Rizzo walked the leadoff batter but quickly escaped the frame with a strikeout and a strike-’em-out, throw-’em-out double play by catcher Luke Szepek.Szepek ignited the Stony Brook offense in the second inning with his first career home run, clearing the left-field fence to give the Seawolves a 1-0 lead.Rizzo retired the next four batters before surrendering a hit but induced an inning-ending double play to maintain the 1-0 advantage through three innings.

The Wildcats tied the game in the bottom of the fifth inning after a double and a stolen base at home plate.

Both teams remained scoreless until the eighth inning when senior Matt Miceli led off with a hit-by-pitch and later scored on a sacrifice fly from Paulsen, putting Stony Brook ahead 2-1.

Jacob Pedersen took over in the bottom of the eighth, working around a leadoff double by retiring the next three batters to keep the lead intact.

Graduate student Cam Santerre opened the ninth with a walk, advanced to second on a passed ball, and reached third on an error. Junior Chanz Doughty then reached on another error, allowing Santerre to score and extend the lead to 3-1.

The Wildcats mounted a ninth-inning rally with a one-out double and an RBI single to make it 3-2, but Pedersen secured the victory with a game-ending flyout.

Up next, the team looks to complete the series sweep against Bethune-Cookman on Feb. 16. First pitch at Jackie Robinson Ballpark is scheduled for 1 p.m. and will be streamed live on YouTube.