FROM PRESS RELEASE
STONY BROOK, N.Y. – The second day of the 2021 America East Baseball Championship featured two thrilling games as NJIT and Stony Brook won in dramatic, comeback fashion. The Highlanders topped Maine in the winner’s bracket and have reached the #AEBASE title game in their debut season in the league.
Down 1-0 in the last half of the ninth inning, the Highlanders put runners on base immediately and ultimately pushed the winning run across for their ninth consecutive win. In the earlier game, Stony Brook overcame a two-run deficit by scoring three times in the ninth as the defending champs avoided elimination.
The Seawolves will play Maine in an elimination game Saturday with the winner facing the Highlanders in the championship game. If the advancing team from the loser’s bracket tops NJIT, a winner-take-all game will be played Sunday to decide who takes home the crown.
2021 #AEBASE Championship Day 2 Recap
Stony Brook 3, UAlbany 2
- Both teams were held scoreless through five innings as a pair of left-handers started strong on the mound.
- UAlbany strung together a couple of hits in the top of the sixth and had two runners on base after Stony Brook unsuccessfully attempted to get the lead runner.
- A sacrifice bunt moved both runners into scoring position for first-team All-Conference shortstop Brad Malm who opened the scoring with a two-RBI single.
- The Seawolves stranded the bases loaded in the eighth and were unable to push a run across.
- All-Conference starter Jared Milch shut down the Great Danes consecutively in the top of the ninth.
- Pinch hitter Derek Yalon started the Seawolves’ ninth-inning rally with a lead-off double down the right field line.
- Evan Fox reached on an error which sent Yalon to third and Cole Durkan’s RBI ground out made it a 2-1 ballgame.
- Brett Paulsen tied the game with a one-out RBI single past the second baseman.
- All-Conference outfielder John LaRocca reached on a hard-hit ball that resulted in a force-out at second and then moved into scoring position with an uncontested stolen base.
- All-Conference third baseman Evan Giordano delivered the final blow with his first collegiate walk-off on a two-strike pitch to left-center to score LaRocca.
- All of the Seawolves runs were unearned.
- Neither team went to the bullpen as Milch earned the win with seven strikeouts and one walk.
- It was Stony Brook’s 30th win of the season.
NJIT 2, Maine 1
- Maine starter Alex McKenney held NJIT hitless through four and neither team scored until the eighth inning.
- The Black Bears had a runner in scoring position in the third but he was doubled up attempting to tag on a flyout to Rookie of the Year Albert Choi.
- It was the second great defensive play of the inning as NJIT third baseman Jared Donnelly hustled to scoop up a bunt and throw out the runner at first.
- The Black Bears threatened in the fifth but a couple of deep flyouts to center were not enough to advance the runners.
- With runners on first and third and one out in the bottom half of the inning the Highlanders attempted a squeeze but McKenney made a barehanded play to get the out at home.
- The Black Bears pushed a run across in the eighth when Connor Goodman, who reached on a single, scored from second on an RBI-single from All-Conference choice Sean Lawlor.
- Julio Marcano started off the dramatic last act with a single to lead off the bottom of the ninth.
- After David Marcano reached on an error to put runners at second and third, McKenney intentionally walked the next batter to load the bases with no outs.
- NJIT sophomore Danny Helfgott hit a sacrifice fly to score Marcano and tie the game.
- Starting catcher Luke Longo followed by skying a ball over the head of the right fielder to score Marcano for the winning run.
- McKenney never left the game and received the loss after surrendering a pair of unearned runs.
- NJIT starter and All-Conference pitcher Ryan Fischer tossed 7.1 innings, allowing one earned run.
- Fellow All-Conference hurler Jake Rappaport came on in relief and earned the win.
