May 10, 2008

Box Score

Albany, N.Y. - Sophomore Alyssa Struzenberg (Cooper City, Fla.) threw her second shutout in three days as Stony Brook's softball team won its first America East Championship in team history, beating the University at Albany, 4-0, Saturday. Stony Brook is now guaranteed a bid into the NCAA Tournament, which will be determined Sunday night at 10 p.m.

Much like the rest of the tournament, the Seawolves jumped out to an early lead Saturday when junior Marissa Fleury (Mahopac, N.Y.) led off the second inning with a towering solo homer to straight-away center field. The home run was Fleury's seventh of the season and first of the tournament.

After being retired in order in the third, junior Kelsi Fanelli (Audubon, N.J.) hit a one-out single back up the middle in the fourth. Fleury followed that with a single of her own, putting runners on first and second for sophomore Jade Clare (Federal Way, Wash.) Clare then smashed a home run off the scoreboard in left field to give the Seawolves a 4-0 advantage.

The Seawolves were solid defensively, quieting Albany scoring threats by turning three inning-ending double plays on hard hit line drives in the first, third and sixth innings. Struzenberg took care of the rest, allowing just four hits and striking out five, including the final batter of the game.

Stony Brook placed four players on the America East All-Championship Team as well. Struzenberg, Fleury, junior Molly Kestranek (St. Mary's, Ga.) and junior Kelly Oberto (Spring Lake Heights, N.J.) all received the honor. Struzenberg was also named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player.

The Seawolves will find out where and who they will be playing in the NCAA Tournament during the selection show on Sunday night at 10 p.m., which will air on ESPNU.