March 9, 2000

STATEN ISLAND, NY - They began the new era much the way they ended the old one: by hitting homeruns. Stony Brook clubbed six round-trippers as they defeated Wagner, 11-9, in the Division I era's opener Thursday afternoon.

CJ Lutz started the parade with a two-run shot to right field in the third inning that narrowed a 4-0 Wagner lead to 4-2. The Seawolves tied the game in that inning on Joe Fernandez's single that scored both Chris Manna and Craig Ansman. Lutz finished the day 4-for-4 from the plate with three RBI's.

In the following inning, the Seawolves kept the pressure on, scoring four more runs to take an 8-4 lead. Third baseman Alex Trezza delivered a homerun over the right field fence to score Gregg Foster and Lutz followed two pitches later with his second dinger of the day. It was Foster's double that started the rally as he brought Murillo plateward.

Wagner was up to the task, tying the game with a four-run outburst in the fifth inning that chased Stony Brook starter Chris Tuthill and middle reliever Lee Reynolds. Junior lefty Brian Keyes came in to put out the flames and went on to finish the game for his first victory.

The Seawolves went ahead for good on a solo homerun by Foster and a two-run blast by Ansman in the sixth inning to take an 11-8 advantage on their way to the win. Foster, Trezza and Ansman each had a pair of RBI's on the day.

The final inning was not played due to darkness.