#2 UAlbany Defeats #3 Stony Brook, 8-1, in First Game of America East Baseball Tournament - UAlbany Sports 2009

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Endicott, N.Y.. – Sophomore Dave Kubiak tossed 8.0 innings, striking out a career-high eight opposing batters to lead No. 2 UAlbany to an 8-1 win over No. 3 Stony Brook on the first day of play at the America East Conference Baseball Tournament on Thursday afternoon at Pete Sylvester Field. With the win, the Great Danes advance to face the winner of the day’s second game between Binghamton and Vermont.

Stony Brook broke up the shutout in the top of the third inning, as Brian Witkowski recorded a double into right center to get on base, and came around to score on a UAlbany throwing error. Chad Marshall knocked the ball to short, but Sean Donovan misjudged the throw to first, allowing the run to score and Marshall to advance to third.

UAlbany took a 4-1 lead in the bottom half of the sixth frame, led off by a Donovan triple into deep right field. The senior shortstop crossed home on a sacrifice fly by Gary Pitcheralle. Brendan Rowland followed with a double that hugged the left field line all the way to the wall, and scored on an RBI single by Ryan Gugel. Centerfielder Dave West dropped a single into left to advance Gugel, who made it home on a double by Pete Eichner that dropped into the outfield just over Michael Tansey’s head. Marc Brown took over for Mike Errigo on the mound for Stony Brook, and induced a ground out and fly out to end the inning. West scored on Kyle Crean’s ground out to give the Great Danes a three-run advantage.

Starter Dave Kubiak made quick work of the Seawolves in the top of the seventh, inducing a fly out and striking out the next two batters. Freshman designated hitter Jim Banks led off the bottom of the frame with a double into left and came home on a fielding error by Stony Brook first baseman Rob Dyer to give the Great Danes a 5-1 lead.

UAlbany added three runs in the bottom of the eighth, as West and Tirri drew walks off Brown. Banks recorded his second RBI of the day, knocking a single through the right side to score West. Donovan, who finished with three hits, followed with double into centerfield to send both baserunners home, to increase the Great Danes’ lead to seven runs.

Closer Sean Gregory came into the game in the top of the ninth for UAlbany, and got Jeremy Nowak to hit into a double play. After loading the bases with a single and two walks, Gregory sat Witkowski down with a called strike to get the Great Danes out of the jam and seal the win.

“If we continue to play like this, we have a great chance,” said UAlbany head coach Jon Mueller, who has led the Great Danes to the postseason tournament for the third time in four seasons. “This was one of the better games we’ve played all season. If we get a good pitching performance like we did today, and erase some of the mental mistakes we made, we will be in good shape.”

UAlbany (25-29-1) will wait to find out its next opponent for Friday. The Great Danes will either face No. 1 Binghamton or No. 4 Vermont at 8 p.m. at Pete Sylvester Field.

Stony Brook (29-22) 001 000 000 - 1 7 1
UAlbany (25-29-1) 000 004 13x - 8 11 1

UAlbany: Dave Kubiak, Sean Gregory (9) and Ryan Gugel.
Stony Brook: Mike Errigo, Marc Brown (6), Jordan Purrington (8) and Pat Cantwell.