American East Conference

Stony Brook Wins Baseball Championship, 6-0

5/24/2008 4:00:00 AM

America East Communications

FARMINGDALE, N.Y.-- Stony Brook held opponents scoreless in the last 20 innings of the tournament to capture the 2008 America East Baseball Championship and the league's automatic berth into the NCAA Division I Baseball Championship. The Seawolves defeated Binghamton, 6-0, at Farmingdale State College Saturday night and will find out where they will play next during the live selection show special Monday at 12:30 p.m. on ESPN.

Stony Brook pitcher Mike Errigo went the distance, striking out six Bearcats en route to being named to the All-Championship Team. Binghamton's starter Gio Yannuzzi struggled and couldn't get out of the fifth inning, getting tagged for four earned runs in that inning.

Yannuzzi put two Seawolf runners on base with a hit by a pitch and a walk before the tournament's most outstanding player Steve Mazzurco singled to left field to drive in the game's first run. Two batters later, Michael Tansey belted a 2-0 pitch far over the scoreboard and up onto the hill in left field for his fifth home run of the season. The homer brought in three more runs to give Stony Brook a 4-0 advantage.

Mazzurco went 3-for-4 with two runs and an RBI on the night, and finished the tournament batting .455 with four runs, one RBI and two doubles in three games.

In the bottom of the fifth inning, the Seawolves turned to their defense. With one out, Binghamton's Ken Jacobi blasted a Errigo pitch high and deep into centerfield. Stony Brook centerfielder Brian Witkowski sprinted back towards the fence and made an outstanding catch on the warning track with his back to homeplate, stealing Jacobi of a double.

At the top of the same inning, Stony Brook tacked on a fifth run. Witkowski doubled to open the frame, and eventually scored on a balk. The Seawolves tacked on the final run in the ninth on a Mazzurco double, Marino single and a RBI sacrifice bunt by Tansey.

Binghamton advanced to play Stony Brook via a 4-0 win over Vermont earlier in the day.

The game was scoreless through the first eight full innings, with Binghamton's four-run top of the ninth the only blemish for Vermont pitching. Bearcat Joe Charron sparked the inundation of runs with a lead-off double down the left field line. Ryan Holley singled home the game-winning RBI and advanced to second on the throw. Binghamton added to the score with an intentional walk to Brian Ivan, a double by designated hitter Tom Baileys and a Corey Taylor triple.

The Catamounts put runners on first and second in the bottom of the ninth, but fell short. Justin Albert pitched 8.2 innings for the Catamounts, striking out six and walking two batters.

Binghamton reliever Greg Lane closed out the game after Murphy Smith pitched the first eight innings to pick up the shutout win. Smith struck out five Catamounts and walked three.

All-Championship Team (Regardless of position)
Eric Thompson, P, Vermont
Zach Groh, P, Binghamton
Gary Novakowski, P, Stony Brook
Justin Echevarria, C, Stony Brook
Murphy Smith, P, Binghamton
Rich Conlon, SS, UMBC
Matt Duffy, SS, Vermont
Ryan Holley, 1B, Binghamton
Steve Mazzurco, LF, Stony Brook - Most Outstanding Player
Mike Errigo, P, Stony Brook