Spring Sports Update: 2/19/13

Yesterday we touched on all of the America East basketball action from the weekend, but believe it or not, spring sports have begun as well. This weekend baseball, men's and women's lacrosse and softball all had games. Let's take a look at some of the highlights from that action as we continue to anticipate that warm weather eventually replacing all of this snow.

Colin Gay

Baseball

Unlike all of us, America East baseball teams get to head south around this time of year, making the rounds to play non-conference games at schools throughout the region. Albany played two game in Cary, N.C. against Canisius, Maine paid a visit to Auburn and Stony Brook soaked up the Miami sunshine in what turned into a three-game set versus Florida International. Some highlights from the weekend:

• Albany shortstop Gordon Madej collected four hits in the two games. The sophomore went 2 for 4 and followed that up with 2 for 5 effort in game two.
• Maine played Auburn, a team which Baseball America projects to be in the field of 64 this spring, closely twice in four games. In game one, America East Player of the Week Colin Gay doubled in the tying run in the seventh before the Tigers belted a walk-off blast in the ninth. In the third game, the Black Bears notched two sixth inning tallies to pull within one, but that was all they got.
• Stony Brook got back to back gems from its starting pitchers in the final two games of the series, but the offense couldn't get it going. Daniel Zamora yielding just one run in six innings while scattering five hits. A 27th round draft choice last year by the Toronto Blue Jays, the freshman struck out six and only walked one, displaying his patented control.

Men's Lacrosse

Five men's lacrosse teams began their season this weekend, leaving Binghamton as the only school yet to play. While Saturday was a tough day for the America East, Albany put a big exclamation point on the weekend with win on Sunday. Some highlights:

• The aforementioned Great Danes knocked off perennial powerhouse and former No. 13 Syracuse with a 16-15 victory in double overtime. The win was good enough to push Albany, which received votes in the preseason poll, up to No. 16 in the men's top 20.
• Brody Eastwood scored three goals in his collegiate debut for Stony Brook. The freshman from Victoria, British Columbia went on to earn conference Rookie of the Week honors.
• Scott Jones had four goals in UMBC's season-opener. Jones was the Retrievers leading scorer a year ago with 36 goals in 13 games.
• Vermont's Graham Horvath began the season scoring three goals against Colgate. A transfer student-athlete from Hofstra, Horvath holds school records at Seton Hall prep for both goals and points.
• Hartford had a huge test in game one of the season, falling to No. 2 Maryland. Goalie Frank Piechota, a redshirt junior, had 13 saves overall including some impressive point blank stops.

Claire Petersen

Women's Lacrosse

With four teams in action, there were plenty of goals to go around in week one of women's lacrosse. Stony Brook started off on the right foot, as did UMBC. Let's check out some of the highlights:

• Stony Brook tied a team-record for most goals in a season-opener with a 20-5 win over Bucknell. Claire Petersen went bonkers for 10 points, including a game-high six assists.
• Laura McHoul dished out five assists in her collegiate debut for New Hampshire. The conference Rookie of the Week helped the Wildcats come within one goal of Hofstra.
• Lindsay Cox and Alyssa Semones both had four tallies as UMBC knocked off local rival American. The Retrievers busted out for nine goals in the second half to win 15-12.
• Jessica Roach led the Catamounts with three goals in the season-opener.

Softball

Like the baseball teams, America East softball squads do the smart thing and head south to get a taste of the warm weather a little early. Four teams got to lace up the spikes for the first time this weekend so let's revisit some highlights:

• Maine's Kristen Koslosky notched eight hits in her first 15 at-bats of the season en route to America East Player of the Week honors. The sophomore also reeled off three stolen bases.
• Sydney Harbaugh was the conference's top rookie in the first weekend, batting .444 with no strikeouts in her first 12 college plate appearances.
• Christine Lucido was extremely solid through six innings as Stony Brook won its first game of the season. The junior allowed just one run on four hits.
• UMBC was led by Chelsea Bertoglio, who began the season with six hits in 12 at-bats. Three of those hits went for extra bases, including two double and a home run.

Linked Up

The men from Albany and Stony Brook will tangle in the ESPN3 "Wild Card" men's basketball game.

Albany's Lyle Thompson earned Nike Player of the Week honors from InsideLacrosse.com.

Check out the newest #Chance2Dance video from Baxter the Bearcat!

In case you missed it yesterday, here are the highlights from the final day of the swimming & diving championships.

We've shown you spots from the school presidents, but now check out the full video in which they talk all things America East.