OMAHA, Neb. – Even Cinderella got one dance.
The Stony Brook Seawolves sensational run is only one loss from ending after dropping the College World Series opener 9-1 to the top-seeded UCLA Bruins yesterday at TD Ameritrade Park.
The Seawolves, only the second No. 4 seed to ever reach the College World Series, will attempt to extend their season tomorrow against the loser of last night’s game between Florida State and Arizona.
With pockets of red placed all throughout the stadium, Stony Brook was rarely able to include a crowd begging to get behind the team in their first-ever appearance in the College World Series after ace Tyler Johnson allowed five runs in the first inning.
Johnson, who had grown up 20 minutes away from UCLA and went 20-0 while pitching at Crespi Carmelite High School, didn’t impress the Bruins anymore than he did four years ago.
Stony Brook’s all-time leader in wins (36), the senior right-hander was riding 12 consecutive victories into the bottom of the first before the first five batters reached base. After giving up two singles and a walk, Johnson faced first-round draft pick Jeff Gelalich, who lined a single to right field to bring in the first two runs of the game.
Johnson then surrendered an RBI single to Trevor Brown before allowing the fourth run on a sacrifice bunt from shortstop Pat Valaika for the first out of the game, eventually ending the inning with 40 pitches.
Facing UCLA sophomore Adam Plutko, the Seawolves bounced right back, but ultimately fell flat. Second baseman Maxx Tissenbaum opened the second inning with a single to left, followed by a Kevin Krause single to center. After shortstop Cole Peragine’s sacrifice bunt advanced the runners, Steven Goldstein walked to load the bases.
A Bruins visit to the mound did wonders, as Plutko struck out Kevin Courtney and forced Sal Intagliata to pop up and strand the runners, with Stony Brook’s best hitter, Travis Jankowski, on deck.
Plutko, who struck out seven in seven innings, was just getting started, but Johnson wouldn’t last much longer.
After allowing two more runners in the third inning, Johnson was pulled, ending with a season-low 2.1 innings after allowing five hits and tying a season-high four walks, along with one hit batter. He threw 69 pitches, with only 34 strikes. After Jasvir Rakkar gave up a deep double to Kevin Williams, Johnson was saddled with a season-high seven runs allowed.
Stony Brook’s poor pitching wasn’t given much help, as only an occasional ping could be heard from the Seawolves silent bats.
Entering the game with the second-highest batting average in the nation (.335), the Seawolves could only muster five hits after outhitting LSU 35-15 in the three-game Super Regional. Stony Brook went 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position, scoring their only run on a solo home run from catcher Pat Cantwell in the third inning, his second of the season.
The Seawolves briefly appeared as if they still carried a slingshot in their back pocket, as Courtney led off the fifth inning with a walk, followed by an Intagliata double. However, on the next pitch, Jankowski, who went 0-for-4, grounded out to first, followed by Brown throwing home to get Courtney. Although the Seawolves first baseman was clearly under the tag, he was called out, leading to a chorus of boos as Stony Brook coach Matt Senk came out for a futile argument.
It wasn’t going to change, and if the Seawolves amazing ride is going to continue, something will have to.