STONY BROOK, N.Y. - Top-seeded Stony Brook University held serve on the first day of the America East Softball Championship as first-team all-conference selections Kelsi Fanelli and Alyssa Struzenberg led their squad to a 3-1 win over fourth-seeded UMBC Thursday afternoon at SBU's University Field. The day's second game between No. 2 Boston University and No. 3 University at Albany was postponed due to rain and will be played Friday at 11 a.m.
The Seawolves (36-12), who advanced to the winners' bracket final of the tournament, jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first. Shortstop Vicki Kavitsky, another first-team all-league choice, reached on an infield hit. Three batters later first baseman Marissa Fleury drove a shot into left which brought the speedy Kavitsky around from first.
That score held until the third when junior Crista Cerrone reached on a throwing error and came all the way around to score on a second Retriever mishap. One hitter later, Fanelli made it 3-0 on a solo homer just right of center field.
UMBC (34-20) threatened in the bottom of the sixth as Struzenberg walked the first two she faced and was relieved by junior Casey Jacobs. The righthander got junior all-conference designated player Amanda Fefel to ground and into a double play and induced junior Emily Thompson into a 5-3 double play. The first two Retrievers reached again in the seventh and one crossed the plate, but Jacobs got three straight ground outs to seal the outcome and earn her league-leading fifth save.
Struzenberg didn't allow a run while scattering three hits in five plus innings of work. She walked three and struck out a pair to earn her 22 win of the year, tying her with Boston University's Cassidi Hardy and UMBC's Stephanie Weigman for the league lead. Weigman, the tough-luck loser, allowed just one earned run on four hit and struck out four in a complete-game effort.
Due to the weather, the Seawolves will now face the winner of the Boston U.-Albany contest at 1:30 p.m., while UMBC will take on the loser of the battle between the Terriers and Great Danes at 4 p.m.
Stay tuned to AmericaEast.com for schedule updates and changes.