NORFOLK, Va.— A four-run rally by the Sacred Heart University baseball team in the bottom of the ninth inning wasn't enough as Stony Brook edged out the 7-6 win at Marty L. Miller Field on Saturday afternoon. The Pioneers (1-1) outhit the Seawolves (5-1) 13-11 in the afternoon but early defensive miscues made the difference.

Freshman Matt Sorrento led the Pioneers with three hits in his first collegiate game while sophomore Bobby Garbuio recorded a team-high two runs batted in in his first career at-bat. Senior Dan Schock recorded the Pioneers first home run of the season with the solo shot to lead off the ninth. 

Senior James Taubl started on the bump for SHU, allowing three runs on five hits in three innings of work. Freshman Cooper Thompson pitched four innings of relief, recording three strikeouts. Junior John Cerretani struck out three in two innings of work, allowing just one hit. 

Stony Brook got on the board in the top of the first on an RBI triple to right field by Bobby Honeyman. The Seawolves added one run in the second and third inning on a sacrifice fly by Nick Grande and an RBI single by Honeyman to take the 3-0 lead.

It was a four-error fourth inning by the Pioneers that saw the Stony Brook lead jump to 7-0. Co-captain PJ DeFilippo got the Pioneers offense going in the bottom half of the inning with his one-out single. Kyle Oliver followed that up with a single before Austin Markmann drove home DeFilippo with an RBI single to right center. Cody Doyle made it four straight hits with his RBI single to center to bring the score to 7-2. 

The Pioneers threatened again with the bases loaded in the bottom of the sixth inning but the Seawolves forced the double play to end the chance. The Pioneers bullpen settled in the rest of the way holding the Seawolves to just five hits over the final five innings.

SHU looked to rally with one final chance at bat in the bottom of the ninth. Schock led off the inning with the homer over the left field fence. a double by senior Anthony Capozziello and a walk by sophomore Stephen Thibault followed suit prompting a pitching change by the Seawolves. Cole Creighton got Jake Frasca to groundout but advancing both runners into scoring position. 

Gabruio then got the call to pinch hit for his first collegiate at-bat with one man out. He lined the offering to centerfield for the single to drive in both runners. He advanced to second on the throw to keep on the pressure for Creighton. Sorrento came up big with his third hit of the afternoon with the RBI single up the middle to bring the score to 7-6. Creighton got Doyle to fly out to right field to end the game.

The Pioneers close out the weekend with an 11:00 a.m. start from Miller Field tomorrow against Iona College.