FROM PRESS RELEASE
STONY BROOK, N.Y. – Maine and NJIT advanced on Thursday at Joe Nathan Field and are now one win from the #AEBASE championship game. The Black Bears and Highlanders each won close contests as the lower seeds to open postseason play.
The Black Bears began the day by defeating the regular-season champs and top seed Stony Brook, 4-2, as Pitcher of the Year Nicholas Sinacola threw seven strong innings. After narrowly getting in to the postseason, the Black Bears advanced in the winners bracket for the first time in 2013. NJIT rode a four-run eighth inning to defeat higher-seeded UAlbany for an eighth consecutive win.
Two games are scheduled for Friday starting with an elimination game at 10 a.m. between Stony Brook and UAlbany. The winner of that game advances to another elimination game on Saturday. The winners bracket matchup between Maine and NJIT is scheduled for Friday afternoon with the victor advancing to Saturday’s championship game.
2021 #AEBASE Championship Day 1 Recap
Maine 4, Stony Brook 2
- Both leadoff hitters reached in the first inning, starting with Maine freshman Quinn McDaniel who came around to score on an RBI single from Ryan Turenne.
- First-Team All-Conference third baseman Evan Giordano made a diving catch on a bunt attempt to help prevent further damage.
- Sinacola ran into trouble in the fourth but Stony Brook stranded a pair of baserunners.
- McDaniel doubled the Black Bear lead with a solo shot to lead off the fifth inning.
- Senior Joe Bramanti followed with a home run of his own in the sixth to make the score 3-0.
- The Seawolves broke through in the seventh when junior Cole Durkan homered to right field off Maine’s ace.
- The regular-season champs roughed up reliever Matt Pushard in the eighth but Maine escaped after surrendering just one run.
- Pushard came back out for the ninth and earned the save.
- Both first-team All-Conference starting pitchers struck out 11 opponents.
- Sinacola threw 112 pitches in seven innings while Stony Brook starter Nick DeGennaro tossed 122 in eight.
- Thursday marked the first time since 2013 that Stony Brook lost its opening game, which was also at the hands of Maine.
NJIT 5, UAlbany 4
- UAlbany scored three runs in the third, all of which were unearned as a result of NJIT fielding miscues.
- NJIT catcher Paul Franzoni homered in the fifth to start the scoring for the Highlanders.
- It was just the second hit surrendered by UAlbany starter and All-Conference second-teamer Ray Weber.
- Down 3-1 in the eighth, the Highlanders erupted for a four-run inning on a pair of homers.
- With two outs, Rookie of the Year Albert Choi reached on a bunt single and first-team All-Conference choice Julio Marcano blasted a two-run game-tying homer to left.
- All-Conference shortstop David Marcano followed with a single and designated hitter Matthew Cocciadiferro slammed a home run to center for the lead.
- The Great Danes answered with a home run in the bottom-half of the inning off the bat of pinch-hitter Josh Loeffler.
- The Highlanders stranded the bases loaded with one out in the ninth but first-team All-Conference reliever Jake Rappaport shut the door.
- NJIT sophomore Kevin Putsky made an outstanding catch against the wall in right field for the final out of the game.
