SBU Sports: Softball offense falters in CAA home-opening loss to Charleston

Stony Brook softball dropped its CAA home opener to Charleston, 2-1, on March 22 at University Field. Crimson Rice (six innings, two runs) and Gabrielle Maday (one inning, no runs) pitched well, but the Seawolves’ offense could not get much going against the Cougars in the loss.

Charleston got to Rice early when Paradis homered to center with two outs in the first inning.

The Cougars’ Mathis struck out the side in the home half of the first. Rice elevated her game after allowing the homer in the first, retiring the Cougars in order in the second, third, fourth and fifth innings.

Emily Reinstein led off the third inning with a single down the third-base line, Stony Brook’s first hit of the game. After a pair of failed sacrifice bunt attempts, Mathis struck out McFarland to end the inning.

Still trailing by a run in the fourth, Naiah Ackerman led off the inning with a base on balls. After the third unsuccessful sacrifice bunt, Madelyn Stepski singled to put a pair of runners on with one out. Stony Brook came away with nothing however after a ground out and a fly out.

Charleston added an insurance run in the sixth against Rice on a two-out single by Paradis.

Kyra McFarland started the sixth with a single, advancing 60 feet on a sacrifice bunt by Ackerman. Mathis clutched up for Charleston, stranding McFarland at second.

Rice’s day in the circle ended after offering a lead-off walk to start the seventh, but Maday entered and struck out a pair to toss a clean inning in relief.

Mia Vannelli got Stony Brook on the board with a solo shot, her second straight game with a homer, to begin the seventh inning.

The next three Seawolves’ hitters were retired, ending a late comeback effort.

“Really tough ballgame. It’s a disappointing loss; we pitched and played well defensively, but we never got anything going offensively,” head coach Megan T. Bryant said.