2019 Baton Rouge Regional Preview: Stony Brook

At A Glance

Record: 31-21

Conference: 15-9

Non-Conference: 13-12

Conference Finish: Tournament Champions, 1st regular season

RPI: 138

RPI 50: 0-3

RPI 25: 0-3

SOS: 255

The Seawolves have actually already made their return to Louisiana this year, so save your memes. Stony Brook won their opening series against FIU and then spent the second weekend in Hammond, where they dropped the series to the Lions. Then they fell victim to a sweep in Fayetteville, compromising their 0-3 record against RPI Top 50. The Seawolves then had a decent enough conference season, dropping three series.

After winning the America East regular season, Stony Brook made good use of their top seeding and rolled to a 3-0 America East Tournament championship to punch their ticket. However they didn’t really flatten the opposition, winning the three games by scores of 7-6, 5-4, and 7-5.

At The Plate

Michael Wilson: .345/.637/.392, 58 H, 13 2B, 3 3B, 10 HR, 44 RBI, 14 BB, 51 SO

Nick Grande: .342/.523/.452, 68 H, 17 2B, 2 3B, 5 HR, 24 RBI, 33 BB, 40 SO

Chris Hamilton: .313/.526/.384, 60 H, 15 2B, 1 3B, 8 HR, 42 RBI, 25 BB, 35 SO

Brandon Alamo: .335/.540/.427, 59 H, 22 2B, 1 3B, 4 HR, 33 RBI, 18 BB, 28 SO

The four batters listed are the only Seawolves batting over .300. I know you probably remember Stony Brook as a club that mashes a lot of taters, but that isn’t actually accurate. LSU has over twenty more home runs than the Seawolves, and they’re not exactly a fearsome lineup.

Michael Wilson leads Stony Brook in both average and slugging with 10 homers on the season. His high strikeout rate matches his power numbers, but not his average curiously enough. He also has walked 14 times, which is kind of troubling for somebody who I assume is batting in the middle of the order. This leads me to believe he isn’t very disciplined at the plate, which can easily be worked in an experienced pitcher’s favor...one like Eric Walker, to be exact.

So in a sense, Wilson is kind of a red herring. Definitely don’t leave him anything fat, but I don’t think he’s the guy to be worried about. That would be Nick Grande, whose numbers suggest an ability to get on by any means necessary: blooper, gapper, dinger, or walk. Again, 40 strikeouts means he’s probably a free swinger but he could still hurt a pitcher in a lot of different ways.

On The Mound

Probable Starters

Bret Clarke: 3.76 ERA, 1.37 WHIP, 67 IP, 1.36 K/BB (49/36), .232 BAA

Greg Marino: 5.19 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 86.2 IP, 5.00 K/BB (75/15), .258 BAA

Brian Hermann: 4.70 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 44 IP, 4.75 K/BB (38/8), .234 BAA

Bullpen

Ben Fero: 2.22 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, 24.1 IP, 2.13 K/BB (17/8), .212 BAA

Sam Turcotte: 3.98 ERA, 1.52 WHIP, 40.2 IP, 2.25 K/BB (45/20), .270 BAA, 7 SV

Adam Erickson: 4.63 ERA, 1.52 WHIP, 23.1 IP, 2.11 K/BB (19/2), .299 BAA, SV

Brandon Bonanno: 4.78 ERA, 1.53 WHIP, 32 IP, 2.07 K/BB (31/15), .283 BAA, 2 SV

This is ultimately why you really shouldn’t feel too threatened. Stony Brook has only played three games against RPI Top 50 teams and these are the numbers produced from that (relatively) easy schedule.

Marino records a ton of strikeouts, but he also gives up a fair share of hits and earned runs. The bullpen has one arm I’d qualify as good (Fero) and I’m not even sure if the starters can put him in a position to be effective. I know why everyone has reason to be worried, but LSU’s offense, especially the form it has been in since returning from Arkansas, shouldn’t have too much trouble against the Seawolves pitching staff.

Unless crazy thunderstorms occur and a strong wind gust appears coming from the river.