DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - Twelve runners were left stranded as the Wildcats dropped a 7-4 game to Stony Brook to open the 2025 season, Friday night at Jackie Robinson Ballpark.
Stony Brook (1-0) led off the night with a leadoff walk off
Tanner Boccabello, but a double play ended the early traffic.
The Seawolves opened the scoring an inning later, loading the bases with a leadoff double, a walk, and a hit-by-pitch before Chris Carson cleared the bases with a double to make ti 3-0 in a hurry.
B-CU (0-1) found a bit of an offensive footing a half-inning later, as
Michael Rodriguez collected the first hit of the season for the Wildcats, quickly stealing second before
Andrey Martinez walked and
Irvin Escobar took a bean ball to load the bases with only one out. After a B-CU strikeout,
Daniel Figueroa walked in a run to make it 3-1 before a flyout ended further threat.
The Seawolves took that run right back in the top of the third as a walk and RBI triple made it 4-1.
The Cats threatened with two outs in the bottom fo the third on a Rodriguez ground-rule double that put runners at second and third, but a flyout ended things for B-CU. They would put runners on second and third again in teh bottom of the fourth with nothing to show.
The Cats finally forced out Stony Brook starter Eddie Smink in the bottom of the fifth, giving way to All-CAA arm Erik Paulsen, who worked three quick outs on just six pitches.
Tanner Boccabello finished his outing for B-CU in the sixth, giving way to
Jean Carlos Zambrano.
In the top of the seventh, the Seawolves again threatened with two outs, loading the bases after two quick outs to start the inning. A flyout to center stranded the Seawolves at four runs for the time being.
Things seemed to reach a pivot point in the top of the eighth as Zambrano loaded the bases with no outs. It proved no issue for Zambrano, who struck out the side from there, heading off the mound to a fiery B-CU dugout still trailing, 4-1.
B-CU carried the momentum to the plate, plating three runs in the bottom of the eighth to tie things at 4-4. After a hit-by-pitch and double, Martinez sent a ball deep to left center field to knot things at four-all with just one inning to play.
Zambrano returned for the ninth, and Stony Brook pitcher/first baseman Paulsen sent a solo shot over the wall to go in front again, 5-4. The Seawolves scored two more following a B-CU pitching change to go back in front by three at 7-4.
B-CU was not quite finished in the bottom of the night, as a hit-by-pitch and walk put two runners on with one out. After a passed ball moved runners up to second and third, a walk loaded the bases with two outs. The game ended on a flyout with the cats unable to score as they fell, 7-4.
Tanner Boccabello made the start for B-CU, working 5.2 innings with four hits, four runs - three earned - four walks, and four strikeouts in the game.
Jean Carlos Zambrano took the loss after 2.2 innings in which he allowed teo runs on four hits with three walks and three strikeouts.
Robert Lastra also made his B-CU debut Friday, working 0.2 innings with a hit and a run allowed with a strikeout
- Michael Rodriguez finished the night 3-5 with two runs scored and an RBI.
- Andrey Martinez walked twice in addition to hitting the team's first homer of the season.
- B-CU stole three bases, led by a pair from returning outfielder Daniel Figueroa.
Game two fo the three-game series is set for 6 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 16.
Admission is free. Fans can watch live at YouTube.com/CateyeNetwork
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--#HailWildcats--
