STONY BROOK, N.Y. – Robert Leonard smacked a grand slam in the bottom of the fourth to snap a 3-3 tie as Stony Brook University rallied for a 7-3 America East baseball victory over the University of Maine in each team’s conference opener Friday.

The teams are scheduled to play two games today and one on Sunday.

After the Seawolves (9-12, 1-0 AE) cracked the scoreboard in the bottom of the first, the Black Bears (5-16, 0-1) came through for a pair of their own in the top of the second, both coming with two outs.

After Joel Barrett grounded out and Kevin McAvoy popped out, Myckie Lugbauer doubled and came around to score on a double by Kevin Jackson. Brian Hackett then singled Jackson in to give the Bears a 2-1 lead.

Barrett’s solo homer in the top of the third gave UM a 3-1 edge, but Stony Brook struck back for a pair in the bottom half of the inning.

Chris Sipp got the Seawolves started with a double, then Michael Stephan reached on a Curt Smith error. After a Keith Fier sacrifice moved the runners to second and third, Chris Cruz lifted a sacrifice fly to center field. One batter later, Michael Tansey doubled Stephan in to knot the score at 3.

Stony Brook broke things open in the fourth against Maine starter Brad Hertzler. Justin Echevarria worked a leadoff walk to start the inning, then Fier reached on a fielders choice. After a single by Brian Witkowski and a strikeout by Sipp, Stephan was hit by a pitch.

Leonard then broke the Bears’ backs, belting a grand slam to give the Seawolves a four-run lead they wouldn’t relinquish.

Tom Koehler settled down after the first three innings, scattering three runs, all earned, on seven hits while walking only two and striking out five. Leonard knocked in five runs.

Hertzler surrendered seven runs, five earned, seven hits, and two walks in seven innings of work, striking out five for UMaine. Hackett finished 3-for-4 with three singles.

SEAWOLVES 7, BLACK BEARS 3

(Friday Afternoon)

Maine (5-16) Stony Brook (9-12)

Player AB R H BI Player AB R H BI

Cather, cf 3 0 1 0 Witkowski, cf 4 1 0

McGraw, lf 4 0 0 0 Sipp, 2b 5 2 0

Smith, 3b 3 0 0 0 Stephan, dh 2 2 0

Barrett, 1b 3 1 1 1 Leonard, 1b 3 1 5

McAvoy, rf 4 0 0 0 Cruz, 3b 3 0 1

Lugbauer, c 3 1 1 0 Tansey, rf 3 0 1

Jackson, dh 4 1 1 1 Mazzuroe, lf 4 0 0

Hackett, ss 4 0 3 1 Zohevarria, c 2 0 0

Menendez, 2b 3 0 0 0 Fier, ss 2 1 0

Totals 31 3 7 3 Totals 28 7 8 7

Maine 021 000 000 – 3

Stony Brook 102 400 00x – 7

E-Smith, Menendez; LOB-Maine 6; Stony Brook 7; 2B-Lugbauer, Jackson; Sipp, Tansey; HR-Barrett; DP-Stony Brook 3; S-Stephan, Leonard, Fier 2; SF-Witkowski, Cruz

Maine IP H R ER BB SO

Hertzler 7 7 7 5 2 5

Balsinde 1 1 0 0 0 0

Stony Brook IP H R ER BB SO

Koehler 7 7 3 3 5 5

Lyons 2 0 0 0 0 3

HBP-Stephan (by Hertzler), Tansey (by Hertzler); WP-Hertzler

Johnson & Wales 7, USM 3

At East Providence, R.I., Erik Hufnagel scattered four hits over seven innings to lead the Wildcats past the University of Southern Maine Huskies.

Senior Alex Hurley tied the JWU school record for career home runs when he hits is 22nd, a two-run blast in the eighth inning.

Collin Henry slammed a two-run double for USM and Josh Mackey had an RBI single.

USM (9-4) 000 001 002 – 3 7 2

JWU (11-12) 001 300 03x – 7 8 1

Curran, Ross (4), Foley (6), Skillin (8) and Yanni; Hufnagel, Salvo (8) and Pendergast

Trinity 14, Bates 2

At Hartford, Conn., a five-run sixth inning broke the game open and the Trinity Bantams ran away from Bates.

Thomas DiBennedetto and Sean Killeen led an 18-hit parade for the Bantams with three apiece. Killeen had two doubles, a single, two RBIs, and a stolen base. DiBennedetto had two singles, a double, three RBIs, and two steals. Chandler Bernard (4-0) allowed two hits in six innings for the win.

Rob Schuler led the Bobcats of Lewiston with two singles. Casey McCormack hit an RBI double.

Trinity (15-3) 004 005 320 – 14

Bates (2-9) 000 000 020 – 2

Barnard, Loudon (7), Simoni (9) and Killeen; Shwartz, Thayer (6), Vitti (8), Cook (9) and Egelson, Patton (9)