ALBANY, N.Y. – In Sunday’s doubleheader, the University at Albany baseball team succumbed to a 12-7 and a 13-2 defeat at the hands of the visiting Stony Brook Seawolves. With the series sweep, Stony Brook improved to 25-14 overall and 11-3 in America East play, while the Great Danes fell to 7-26 on the season and 4-14 in conference.
In game one, both teams recorded double-figure hits, as the Seawolves knocked 12 and UAlbany ripped 10, including five doubles. Junior Alex Lushkevich led the Dane with two hits and three runs batted in, while senior Brian Bullard (2-for-4) and junior Craig Lepre (2-for-5) also had multiple hits. In addition, senior Josh Nethaway lined his 51st career double in the game, tying the all-time program record.
On the mound, UAlbany used six arms with sophomore Ryan Stinar throwing the first 3.1 frames. Junior Matt Gallup (1-4) took the loss out of the pen, allowing the go-ahead run in the sixth inning.
Stony Brook took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first on a fielding error and Kevin Krause’s two-run home run over the left field wall.
The Seawolves scored three more runs in the fourth, using three walks, a fielder’s choice, and Robert Chavarria’s RBI single.
However, UAlbany came storming back in the bottom of the frame, batting around the order to take a 6-5 lead. Nethaway sparked the inning with a leadoff two-bagger to left-center, and D.J. Hoagboon and Lepre followed with back-to-back singles to the right side, scoring one. The Danes loaded the bases on Charlie Peltz’s misplayed sacrifice bunt by starting pitcher Ryley MacEachern, and Lushkevich brought everybody home with his double to left field. Still with just one out, Jeff VonMoser tied the score with a double down the left field line, and also scored the go-ahead run after back-to-back walks and Nethaway’s RBI fielder’s choice.
Stony Brook, however, got the bats going again and scored six straight runs of their own, plating two in the sixth on three singles and a walk, and four in the seventh on four singles and three walks.
In the ninth, the Seawolves scored one more, but UAlbany got that one back in the bottom of the inning, as Bullard doubled to left and scored onEvan Harasta’s single up the middle.
Reliver Tim Knesnik (3-1) earned the win, throwing the final 5.2 innings, allowing one run and three hits, while striking out five.
In the nightcap, Stony Brook accelerated to an 8-0 advantage, scoring four in the second, three in the third, and one in the fifth.
UAlbany got on the board in the fourth when Bullard belted a leadoff home run, marking the 10th of his career.
However, Stony Brook answered back with five runs to take a 13-1 advantage. Krause highlighted the inning with his second two-run home run of the day.
The Great Danes answered, scoring one run in the bottom of the fifth, as Richard Bacon drew a leadoff walk, Adam Mund doubled to center, and VonMoser knocked a sacrifice fly to centerfield, plating Bacon. That would mark the last run in the seven-inning affair.
Stony Brook’s Tyler Honahan earned the complete-game win, allowing two runs and four hits, while striking out eight.
Up next, the Great Danes hit the road for nine straight games, starting with six consecutive non-conference contests. UAlbany will travel to Central Connecticut State Tuesday before playing a four-game series at NJIT over the weekend.
