Softball Advances to Championship Round

Box Score ǀ Championship Live Stream

STONY BROOK N.Y. – The University at Albany (31-11) defeated Binghamton (22-25) for the fourth time this season, avoiding elimination in the America East Tournament.  The Danes will now face Stony Brook once again in the championship round in a rematch of last year’s championship.

Mackenzie Thompson made her tournament debut on the mound for UAlbany today, pitching 6.0 innings, allowing two runs on four hits with one strikeout and one walk  Brittany MacFawn had started the first two games UAlbany played in the tournament, against Binghamton in the opening round and Stony Brook in the winner’s bracket.

The game remained scoreless through the first two innings, before UAlbany broke proceedings open with five runs in the top of the third.  Alexa Toole led off grounding out to second.  Vicky McFarland then hit a single to center field.  Kelly Costello followed with an RBI double down the left field line, scoring McFarland.  Maggie Cocks was hit by a pitch and took first base.  Charlise Castro hit a single through the left side, advancing Costello to third and Cocks to second.  Elizabeth Snow hit into a fielder’s choice and reached first safely while Castro was thrown out at second for the second out of the inning.  Costello was able to score on the play.  With runners on first and third, Marlin Solano hit a three-run home run to left center, giving UAlbany a 5-0 lead.

Binghamton added a run in the bottom of the fourth, and another in the bottom of the sixth to close the lead to 5-2.  MacFawn entered the game in the bottom of the seventh, replacing Thompson.  Binghamton managed to get runners on first and second with two outs, before hitting into a fielder’s choice force-out at second, ending the game.  MacFawn earned the save, pitching one full inning, allowing no hits and two walks.  McFarland hit 1-3 with a run scored and a walk.  Costello hit 1-4 with a run scored and one RBI.  Castro hit 1-3.  And Solano hit 2-3 with a home run and three RBIs.

UAlbany will play Stony Brook in the championship round Sunday, May 11 at 11:00 a.m.  Since Stony Brook has yet to record a loss in the double-elimination tournament, UAlbany would need to defeat the Seawolves in the morning game to force a second, deciding game in the afternoon.