SBU Sports: Baseball rallies late to secure victory over Rider

After trailing 2-1 heading into the eighth inning, Nico Azpilcueta emerged as the hero, delivering a go-ahead two-RBI single to give Stony Brook a 3-2 lead, ultimately securing a 4-2 road victory over Rider on March 19 in Lawrenceville, New Jersey.

The Seawolves struck first in their opening trip to the plate, taking an early 1-0 lead. Johnny Pilla ignited the rally with a one-out walk, followed by stealing second and third base. Azpilcueta then brought in Pilla on a sacrifice fly, giving the Seawolves the advantage.

Jacob Pedersen got the start for Stony Brook and began his outing with a 1-2-3 bottom of the first inning.

Following a flyout to begin the second inning, Brett Davino drew a walk in his first start of the season, stole second base, and advanced to third on a flyout. However, he was left stranded, keeping the score at 1-0.

Pedersen returned in the second inning, recorded a strikeout, and stranded two runners to end the frame.

The Seawolves went down in order in the top of the third inning. Matt Sgambati then entered the game for Stony Brook in the bottom half and retired the Broncs in order, maintaining the 1-0 lead heading into the fourth.

Azpilcueta led off the fourth inning with a walk but was ultimately stranded at second base.

Evan Kay took the mound for Stony Brook in the fourth inning. After retiring the first two batters, he surrendered an RBI base hit, allowing Rider to tie the game at 1-1.

Following a scoreless fifth inning for the Seawolves, Rider capitalized on an RBI single in their half of the frame to take a 2-1 advantage.

Stony Brook stranded a runner on second to close the sixth inning. Alex Jankowski entered the game and worked around a leadoff single to keep the deficit at one.

In his first career start, Scott Gell tallied a one-out single in the seventh inning and advanced to third by stealing two bases. However, Rider recorded a strikeout to escape the inning unscathed.

Ty Panariello took over on the mound after the seventh-inning stretch and efficiently retired the side with two flyouts and a foulout to first base.

Stony Brook responded in the eighth inning with an offensive surge, scoring three runs to take a 4-2 lead. Erik Paulsen was hit by a pitch to start the rally, followed by a single from Pilla. After a Rider pitching change, Azpilcueta delivered a clutch two-RBI single to put the Seawolves ahead 3-2. A few batters later, Carson added an insurance run with an RBI groundout.

Panariello returned in the eighth, allowing a leadoff walk but inducing a double play and a foulout to preserve the two-run lead.

In Rider’s final attempt at a comeback in the ninth, Ryan Dieguez entered the game for the Seawolves and secured the victory.

Up next, the team returns to action this weekend as they travel to Delaware for their first CAA series of the season. First pitch of the three-game set is scheduled for Friday, March 21 at 5 p.m. and can be streamed live on FloBaseball.