Preview: Stony Brook Seawolves at Columbia Lions

NEW YORK (Interstat) — The Columbia Lions look to snap a four-game skid when they host the Stony Brook Seawolves in non-conference baseball action Wednesday evening at Hal Robertson Field at Phillip Satow Stadium.

First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m. under clear skies with temperatures around 52 degrees.

Both teams enter with struggling overall records. Columbia (9-20) has lost four straight, including a 6-1 defeat at Brown on Saturday. The Lions’ bullpen was taxed in that loss, with Alex Sotiropoulos, Baylor Hicks and Brendan Murphy combining for eight innings of relief.

Stony Brook (14-22) has been more competitive lately, winning three of its last five, including a 3-1 victory over Monmouth on Saturday behind a dominant pitching performance from Micah Worley, who struck out 10 over eight scoreless innings.

A key matchup will feature Columbia’s Thomas Santana, who is coming off a spectacular outing. The right-hander threw seven no-hit innings with one earned run and six strikeouts in an 11-2 win over Brown on April 18. He also tossed six scoreless frames against Princeton on April 12. However, he was roughed up for seven earned runs by Penn on April 4.

For the Seawolves, reliever Christian Martinez has been a reliable arm. Over his last five appearances spanning 11 1/3 innings, he has allowed just two earned runs on four hits, including 3 2/3 scoreless innings against Monmouth on April 18.

According to Interstat’s game simulator, this contest projects to be a tight one, with a predicted final score of Stony Brook 5, Columbia 4.

Following this game, Columbia prepares for an Ivy League series against Yale at home this weekend. Stony Brook continues its road trip with a conference series at Towson starting Friday.