Gregory Leads UAlbany Baseball to Doubleheader Split with Stony Brook

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Stony Brook, N.Y. – Senior right hander Sean Gregory earned the win on the mound, throwing 5.1 innings in relief and allowing just one hit to lead UAlbany to a 10-7 comeback win over Stony Brook in the second game of an America East Conference baseball doubleheader at University Field on Sunday afternoon. The Great Danes dropped the first half of the twinbill to the Seawolves, 4-1.

Senior Ryan Gugel hit a triple to right center in the top of the sixth inning of game two to send Brendan Rowland and Gary Pitcheralle home, breaking a 7-7 tie. In the top of the seventh, third baseman Pete Eichner knocked a single through the right side to get on base, and gave the Great Danes an insurance run when he was driven in on a base hit by Sean Donovan two batters later. Gregory held the Stony Brook offense in check through the final two innings to give UAlbany the series split.

The Great Danes had taken an early two-run lead in the second inning on RBI singles by Eichner and Ralph Keppler. After UAlbany added a third run in the next inning on an RBI single by Dave West, Stony Brook scored in the bottom half of the frame on a two-run homer by Chad Marshall. The Seawolves then racked up four runs in the fifth with back-to-back singles and a two-run shot over the right field fence by Brian Witkowski.

The Great Danes responded with four runs of their own in the top of the fifth to take a 7-6 lead. Rowland led of with a base hit through the right side and West drew a walk off reliever Marc Brown. An error on the Stony Brook shortstop during West’s stolen base attempt allowed Rowland to walk, while West was driven in on a single by Kyle Crean. Eichner, who was 3-for-4 in the game, doubled to right center to score Crean and later finished up the UAlbany scoring as he made it home on a Stony Brook fielding error.

Chris Maier took the loss on the mound for the Seawoves, throwing 1.2 innings in relief. Starter Jonathan Kalkau only lasted 1.2 frames for Stony Brook, while Evan Steko-Haley also saw action, striking out three in 2.1 innings of work. UAlbany starter Zach Kraham fanned one in 3.2 innings on the mound.

The Great Danes scored first in game one, as senior left fielder Pitcheralle drove a solo home run over the left field fence in the third inning. Stony Brook responded in the bottom of the frame, plating three runs. Marshall singled through the right side to get on base and was driven home with a homer by Nick Thode that sailed out to left. Robert Dyer followed with a triple and later scored on an RBI single by Steven Mazzurco to give the Seawolves a 3-1 lead.

The Seawolves added another run in the bottom of the sixth. Keith Feir singled to centerfield and was driven home on a double by Chad Rebecca. Stony Brook right hander Nick Tropeano induced three quick outs in the top of the seventh to seal the win for Stony Brook. Tropeano struck out eight in his complete-game performance. UAlbany’s Ryan White earned the loss on the mound for the Great Danes, fanning two and allowing three earned runs in four innings of work. Reliever Jeff Kaier tossed the final two frames, striking out one.

UAlbany (17-23, AE 9-7) and Stony Brook (20-18, AE 9-7) will host non-conference opponent Manhattan on Wednesday before welcoming America East opponent Maine to Varsity Field over the weekend.

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UAlbany 001 000 0 - 1 3 1
Stony Brook 003 001 x - 4 9 1

UAlbany: Ryan White, Jeff Kaier (5) and Ryan Gugel.

Stony Brook: Nick Tropeano and Pat Cantwell.

UAlbany (17-23, AE 9-7) 021 042 100 - 10 13 0
Stony Brook (20-18, AE 9-7) 002 410 000 - 7 8 3

UAlbany: Zach Kraham, Sean Gregory (4) and Ralph Keppler.
Stony Brook: Jonathan Kalkau, Evan Steko-Haley (2), Marc Brown (5), Chris Maier (6), Jeremy Nowak (7) and Nick Thode.