Vestal, N.Y. - The Stony Brook softball team (31-22) will begin its quest for the 2013 America East championship on Thursday against top-seeded Albany at 1 p.m. The No. 4 seed in the tournament, Stony Brook will be looking for its second conference title in program history.
Tournament Schedule
The 2013 America East championship will be a double-elimination format, meaning a team must lose twice in order to be eliminated. The winner will advance to the 2013 NCAA Tournament as the America East's auto-qualifier.
GAME 1: Thursday, May 9 - No. 1 Albany vs. No. 4 Stony Brook, 1 p.m.
GAME 2: Thursday, May 9 - No. 2 Binghamton vs. No. 3 Hartford, 3:30 p.m.
GAME 3: Friday, May 10 - Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 2, 11 a.m.
GAME 4: Friday, May 10 - Loser of Game 1 vs. Loser of Game 2, 1:30 p.m.
GAME 5: Friday, May 10 - Loser of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 4, 4 p.m.
GAME 6: Saturday, May 11 - Winner of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 5, 12 p.m.
GAME 7: Saturday, May 11 - Game 6 Rematch (if necessary), 2:30 p.m.
Tournament History
Stony Brook will be making its eighth appearance at the America East Tournament this week. The Seawolves have won at least one tournament game in six of their previous seven appearances and own an 11-12 all-time record at the competition.
Stony Brook has appeared in the America East title game three times (2005, 2008, 2010) and won the conference championship in 2008. The Seawolves were then sent to the Tempe Regional where the team faced host Arizona State, Hawaii and Mississippi State in the NCAA Tournament.
The Seawolves have faced Albany eight times in the America East Tournament and both teams have won four games. Stony Brook defeated the Great Danes in the 2012 tournament opener, but fell to Albany on the second day in an elimination game. Stony Brook has never faced Binghamton or Hartford in the conference tournament.
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Stony Brook vs. Albany, Binghamton and Hartford
Stony Brook posted a 2-7 mark against Albany, Binghamton and Hartford this season, but the record doesn't tell the whole story. Five of the nine games were decided by one run, including a 4-3 win at Albany on Apr. 13. The Seawolves pitching staff was particularly dominant against the three tournament opponents with a 1.93 ERA and a .239 opponent batting average.
All-Conference Honorees
Six Stony Brook players were honored by the America East on Wednesday as All-Conference performers. Freshman Alexandra Pisciotta (New Hyde Park, N.Y.) was named first-team All-America East and was placed on the America East All-Rookie Team. Sophomores Bria Green(Wheatley Heights, N.Y.) and Shayla Giosia (Runnemede, N.J.) and junior Christine Lucido (Melville, N.Y.) were named to the All-Conference second team, while freshman Jane Sallen (Lake Worth, Fla.) joined Pisciotta on the All-Rookie Team. Sophomore Allison Cukrov (Irvine, Calif.) was also honored as an All-Academic selection after posting a 3.92 GPA as an environmental science major.
Streaking Seawolves
Stony Brook enters the America East Tournament playing some of its best softball of the season. The Seawolves have won six straight and capped the regular season with the program's first-ever three-game sweep against Boston University. Here are some statistics and streaks of note entering the postseason:
• Green currently owns the longest hitting streak on the team at eight straight games.
• Over the course of those eight games, Green is hitting .522 (12-for-23) with a home run and six RBI.
• In her last four appearances (20 innings), Cukrov is 3-0 with a 0.35 ERA and 21 strikeouts.
• Kellie Reynolds has five multi-hit performances in her last 14 games.
• Pisciotta has hit safely in 20 of her last 29 games.
• Olivia Mintun has reached base in each of the last nine games.
• Giosia leads the team with 17 multi-hit games this season.
• Over the course of those eight games, Green is hitting .522 (12-for-23) with a home run and six RBI.
• In her last four appearances (20 innings), Cukrov is 3-0 with a 0.35 ERA and 21 strikeouts.
• Kellie Reynolds has five multi-hit performances in her last 14 games.
• Pisciotta has hit safely in 20 of her last 29 games.
• Olivia Mintun has reached base in each of the last nine games.
• Giosia leads the team with 17 multi-hit games this season.
