SBU Sports: Baseball secures opening day victory with late surge

The Stony Brook University baseball team secured an Opening Day victory with a go-ahead home run from Erik Paulsen in the top of the ninth, propelling the Seawolves past Bethune-Cookman, 7-4, on Feb. 14 in Florida.

Paulsen led off the game with a walk, but the Wildcats turned a double play to retire the first three hitters in order.

Eddie Smink got the Opening Night start for Stony Brook and retired the first three batters he faced in the bottom of the first.

Nico Azpilcueta began the second inning with his first career hit, a double down the left-field line. Following a walk by Johnny Pilla, a sacrifice bunt by Cam Santerre, and a hit-by-pitch drawn by Kincaid Bergthold, Chris Carson cleared the bases with a double to right field, giving the Seawolves a 3-0 lead.

Bethune-Cookman responded with a bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the second to cut the deficit to 3-1.

Azpilcueta sparked another rally in the third with a two-out walk, setting up Pilla for an RBI triple that extended Stony Brook’s lead to 4-1.

Both teams were held scoreless from the fourth through the seventh innings. Paulsen took over in relief in the fifth after Smink finished his outing with 4.0 innings, one run allowed, and seven strikeouts.

Paulsen was sharp in his first two innings on the mound, allowing just one hit.

The Wildcats tied the game at 4-4 in the eighth with an RBI double and a two-run home run.

Paulsen delivered in the ninth, launching a solo home run over the right-field wall to put the Seawolves back in front, 5-4. Pilla added two insurance runs with an RBI double.

Micha Worley earned his first career save, escaping a bases-loaded jam in the bottom of the ninth to seal the victory.

Up next, the team continues its series against Bethune-Cookman on Feb. 15. First pitch is set for 7 p.m. and will be streamed live on YouTube.