With runners at first and second and one out, Albany's D.J. Hoagboon lined a base hit down the leftfield line and put the Great Danes ahead 2-1. Nolan Gaige and Kyle Crean, of Miller Place, hit back-to-back RBI-singles later in the seventh as No. 4 Albany upset No. 1 Stony Brook, 4-1, in the Consolation Bracket Final of the America East Championship Friday afternoon at Joe Nathan Field.
"I was trying to throw the ball hard it wasn't going where I wanted it to go," McNitt said, "kind of lost control and just couldn't throw strikes and ended up giving up two walks and then a hit here a hit there.
"I kept wanting to throw strikes get out of the inning as soon as I can so the hitters can do their thing."
Stony Brook catcher Cantwell said McNitt made the right pitch to Hoagboon.
" made the pitch on who poked it into left for the two-run double," Cantwell said. "That's a good pitch. That kid's been struggling all week on that pitch and hit it hard down the line. Can't really do anything about it."
The Seawolves had runners in scoring position with less than two outs in the first and fourth innings but Kasceim Graham prevented Stony Brook's hitters from capitalizing, holding the Seawolves to one run on six hits and two walks with seven strikeouts in a complete game win for Albany.
"If you don't capitalize early when guys are in scoring position that usually comes back to bite you," Stony Brook coach Mike Senk said. "We had some chances to add on two or three runs and that changes the mindset of everybody and how the game is played."
Cantwell went 2-for-3 with a double and had Stony Brook's lone RBI, a sac fly in the fifth which scored Sal Intagliata on a close play at the plate. Intagliata went 2-for-4.
The loss likely ends the season for the Seawolves (42-12) but there is a slim chance of an at-large selection to the NCAA Tournament. The tournament field will be announced Monday at 12:30 p.m. on ESPN.
