March 28, 2008

Box Score

Justin Echevarria - Senior Tom Koehler (New Rochelle, N.Y.) hurled a seven-hitter to lead the Stony Brook University baseball team to a 3-1 victory over the New York Tech Bears in the Seawolves home opener at University Field on Friday afternoon. SBU improves to 7-10 with the victory while the Bears fall to 5-5.

Koehler (4-1) was brilliant for the Seawolves, striking out a season-high 11 in his 9.0 innings of work while walking four. Freshman Chad Marshall (Paris, Ontario) and junior Justin Echevarria (Uniondale, N.Y.) each had a hit and an RBI to lead the Stony Brook offense.

The Seawolves got off to a quick start, loading the bases with no outs in the first on a walk and two hit batsmen. Junior Jeremy Nowak (Cheektowaga, N.Y.) then grounded into a fielder's choice, allowing junior Brian Witkowski (Lindenhurst, N.Y.) to score. NYIT starter Frank Ryan then got junior Steven Mazzurco (Newfield, N.Y.) to ground into a double-play to end the inning.

Stony Brook added a run in the third as Witkowksi singled with one out, stole second and then came home on a RBI double from Marshall. The Seawolves added an unearned run in the fourth on a two-out RBI single from Echevarria.

NYIT got a run back in the seventh as Jerry Smith singled with one out to bring up Joe Lucente who smashed a RBI double to right-center field to make it 3-1. After walking the next hitter, Koehler got out of the jam by striking out Eric Cos.

The Bears threatened to tie the score in the ninth, putting runners on first and third with two outs. But Koehler got Julian Richards swinging to give the Seawolves the victory. Ryan took the loss for NYIT, allowing two earned runs in the 7.0 innings of work. Smith lead the Bears offense with two hits in four at-bats

The teams will resume their four-game set tomorrow, traveling to Old Westbury for a doubleheader. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.