For Immediate Release: April 5, 2008
Contact: John Hartrick (hartrick@binghamton.edu)
Phone: 607-777-6800

BU baseball drops America East opening twinbill at Stony Brook
Bearcats squander late-inning leads in both games

Game 1 Box
Game 2 Box

STONY BROOK, N.Y.– Visiting Binghamton (7-17, 0-2 AE) let late-inning leads slip away in each game of a doubleheader defeat to Stony Brook (12-11, 2-0 AE) in the America East openers for both teams Saturday from University Field. Stony Brook won 11-9 and 5-4.

In the game one slugfest, BU trailed 7-1 before exploding for eight runs in the eighth inning to pull ahead 9-7. Binghamton's bullpen, however, surrendered four runs in the bottom of the frame - a two-run home run to tie the game and then four straight hits to give the Seawolves the winning margin.

In Binghamton's eight-run outburst, freshman right fielder Peter Bregartner (East Islip, N.Y.) delighted family and friends in his hometown return with a three-run home run to right field. Junior designated hitter Ken Jacobi (Milford, Conn.) also delivered a bases-clearing triple in the inning.

Bregartner went 2-for-4 with three RBI, sophomore left fielder Joe Charron (Schaghticoke, N.Y.) went 2-for-5 with 2 RBI and freshman third baseman Brian Ivan (Toronto, Ontario) went 2-for-4 with an RBI.

Senior starter Zach Groh (Reading, Pa.) went seven innings and allowed seven runs on nine hits. He struck out five, walked two and didn't get a decision.

The Bearcats were outhit 15-10 and Stony Brook racked up seven doubles and two home runs.

In game two, BU led 4-3 in the sixth inning of a seven inning game, but the Seawolves belted a pair of solo home runs in the bottom of the sixth to complete the sweep.

Down 3-1 after one inning, BU rallied with single runs in the third, fourth and fifth innings to take the 4-3 lead. Jacobi hit an RBI double in the fourth and Charron added an RBI single in the fifth to give the Bearcats the lead. Binghamton could have stretched its lead with a runner on second and one out in the fifth, but a pop-up and strikeout ended the inning.

Senior center fielder Ryan James (Wading River, N.Y.) went 3-for-3 with two RBI. James ripped a solo home run in the first inning and added an RBI single in the third.

Ivan went 1-for-2 to bump his team-best season average to .383. Bregartner also collected a hit to lift his average to .313.

Junior starter Jeff Dennis (North Syracuse, N.Y.) went the distance, scattering six hits and five runs over six innings. Dennis (1-4) struck out five and walked one.

Binghamton outhit Stony Brook 9-6, but stranded six runners and hit into two double plays.

The teams will finish their four-game set with a doubleheader Sunday. Game one is slated to begin at noon.