Perfection in sports is something every athlete and team strives for. Being perfect backs up the claim that said person or group is the leader that should be emulated by its rivals. Stony Brook Softball entered the Madeira Beach Tournament with a mission, and exited it– perfect.
Junior pitcher Dawn Bodrug tossed the Seawolves’ first perfect game in eight seasons, striking out 15 batters in the 7-0 victory over the Cornell Big Red on Sunday. The pitcher is the fourth in the program to toss one in the Division-I era, and the only to do so in a full seven-inning contest. The victory capped off the Stony Brook team’s perfect road trip in Madeira Beach, FL, giving the Seawolves a 5-0 start for the first time since 1991.
“Our team has put in a lot of work to get prepared for the season and it’s nice to see that work pay off,” head coach Megan T. Bryant said in a press release. “We had a great approach this weekend individually and collectively. It’s a good start and it’s exciting to take the next step.”
Stony Brook 7, Cornell 0
It took Cornell nine batters to even get the ball into play against Bodrug, who fanned the Big Red’s first eight. The pitcher struck out all three Cornell batters looking in the first inning and the next five swinging before Erin Rockstroh popped out to junior shortstop Nicole McCarvill.
Stony Brook added to its scoring tally in the top of the sixth after already leading, 1-0. McCarvill laid down a potential sacrifice bunt meant to advance junior centerfielder Jourdin Hering to second base, but the junior crossed home plate after an errant throw by Cornell sophomore third baseman Olivia Rooney. That opened up the scoring carousel as two more runners scored as the inning ended with the Seawolves up, 4-0.
The Seawolves added three more runs the following inning, with McCarvill driving in two off a double to left field. Senior Melissa Rahrich’s single up the middle drove the shortstop home and increased the lead, 7-0. Rahrich led the team by going 4-5 and drove in three runs alongside McCarvill.
Bodrug needed 104 pitches to achieve perfection, striking out freshman pitcher Mia Burd swinging to make history
“Dawn’s performance today was exceptional and her team was behind her offensively and defensively,” Bryant said. “A perfect game is special but it is a team effort.”
The perfect game also came with a sweet bit of irony. The last Stony Brook pitcher that threw a perfect game was Allison Cukrov in April 2012. Cukrov watched this game from the Big Red’s dugout, as their pitching coach.
Stony Brook 2, Georgetown 1
Although Stony Brook was in complete control of the afternoon game, the morning bout against the Georgetown Hoyas was a nail-biter. The Seawolves only mustered up one hit through five innings against sophomore starter Cassie Henning. However, Georgetown opted with junior London Diller in the circle after Hering hit a single, starting the inning.
The Seawolves got two runners in scoring position as senior catcher Jordyn Nowakowski stepped up to the plate. Nowakowski powered a shot to left-center field, driving both base runners home and giving Stony Brook the 2-1 lead.
Sophomore starter Shelbi Denman wrapped up the contest in the following half inning, putting away the side. She shook off a sluggish fourth inning which saw the pitcher give up a leadoff single and wild pitch, with Mae Forshey scoring the Hoyas’ lone run off a double by Savannah Jones. Both pitching crews surrendered a total of seven hits throughout the contest.
Stony Brook 9, Providence 2
The Stony Brook team’s offense exploded against the Providence Friars Saturday afternoon, with the midway game showcasing its strength. Hering began the contest with a bunt-single and advanced to second following a pass ball. That set the course for three Seawolves’ to cross the plate in the inning.
Hering was only getting started, as her triple to right-center field scored freshman right fielder Shauna Nuss for the 4-1 lead. Senior third baseman Riley Craig later extended the lead to 6-1, after McCarvill drove Hering across the plate with a single. The centerfielder added to the tally with a solo home run starting the fourth inning and completed the cycle with a double in the sixth.
Bodrug shook off the home run blast from Friars’ senior Mackensie Compton that kicked off the bottom of the first inning. The pitcher delivered a preview of her eventual-Sunday success by fanning the next six batters after Compton. Bodrug earned her first win as a Seawolf starter by throwing a complete game and striking out 11 batters.
Stony Brook 9, Columbia 5
The Columbia Lions struck first after scoring two runs in the top of the first, but Stony Brook countered by sending four runners home for the 4-2 lead. The Lions kept up the following half inning, after Max Ortega capped off three straight Lions’ hits with an RBI-single that tied the game at four. But, Stony Brook kept its foot on the gas pedal for the rest of the game.
Rahrich gave Stony Brook the lead for good with a two-run blast in the following half inning. Hering added to the lead with a two-run single to right-center field for the 8-4 lead in the bottom of the fifth.
Hering had an incredible day at the plate on Saturday by batting .667. The centerfielder drove home four runs over both games and crossed home plate four times in the win over the Friars.
Stony Brook 6, Colgate 5
Although the Seawolves are 5-0 now, they were two outs away from starting the 2020 season on the losing end. Stony Brook entered the bottom of the seventh trailing 5-3 when Rahrich, the 2019 America East Player of the Year, stepped up to the plate. The senior pounced on a fast pitch for a single that drove home Nuss and McCarvill and tied the season opener at 5. Senior Jess Hay stepped in for the Colgate Raiders relief pitching and got a second out, but also loaded the bases.
Hay got the upper hand against sophomore second baseman Taylor Juenke with a first-pitch strike, but quickly fell behind 3-1. The next pitch was ruled ball four and gave Stony Brook the 6-5 comeback victory via walk off walk.
The Seawolves showcased incredible resilience by earning six runs in three innings. Hering cut the deficit to 5-3 after driving home two runners with a double and crossing home via a McCarvill double the following at-bat, in the fifth inning.
Rahrich got rocked in her first start of the season by surrendering five earned runs and ten hits. She gave up two centerfield home runs and gave Colgate a free run by throwing a wild pitch.
Stony Brook showcased why it was tabbed as the top seed in the America East Preseason Coaches’ Poll, by finishing its season opener as the only undefeated team in the conference.
Stony Brook will continue its road trip in Florida by traveling to Jacksonville for the North Florida Challenge. The Seawolves will begin the tournament against the Akron Zephyrs on Friday, Feb. 28 at 2:30 p.m.
