May 17, 2008

Box Score

Tempe, Ariz. - Stony Brook's softball team held their own during its first game in the NCAA Regional, losing to No. 2 Arizona State, 2-0, in front of 870 fans at Farrington Stadium in Tempe, Ariz. Friday. Stony Brook will now face Mississippi State, who lost to Hawai'i, tomorrow at 4:30 p.m.

The Seawolves showed no jitters from playing in the their first NCAA Tournament game, putting two runners on base in their first at-bats. Senior Ashley Westphal (Huntington Beach, Calif.) started the game off with a four-pitch walk, and sophomore Vicki Kavitksy (Cherry Hill, N.J.), who reached on a fielder's choice, recorded the first stolen base on Arizona State since their conference play began back in March.

After holding the fourth best offense in the country to just two hits over the first 4.2 innings, sophomore Alyssa Struzenberg (Cooper City, Fla.) issued a two-out walk to Arizona's Lesley Rogers. Rogers stole second and then Jackie Vasquez lined a 3-2 pitch back up the middle to drive in the first run of the game. Vasquez advanced to second on a wild pitch and scored on a single to right field by Kaitlin Cochran, to give the Sun Devils a 2-0 lead.

The Seawolves threatened to score in the next half inning, starting off with a walk by junior Marissa Fleury (Mahopac, N.Y.). The pinch-runner, sophomore Kendall Blumenthal (Frederick, Md.), was then moved over to second on a sacrifice bunt by junior Molly Kestranek (St. Mary's, Ga.). However, Megan Elliot kept the Seawolves scoreless, recording a line out and a strikeout to end the inning.

Stony Brook recorded just three hits, but was never retired in order, managing at least one base runner in each inning.

The Seawolves will face Mississippi State, Saturday afternoon at 4:30 p.m. (PT), in their second game of the double-elimination regional.