Softball Wins Opening Game Of America East Tournament
Box Score
STONY BROOK, N.Y. – The University at Albany (30-10) softball program kicked off the America East Tournament against Binghamton today, earning an opening round victory over the Bearcats (21-24) by a score of 8-7. The Danes, by virtue of winning their first game in the double-elimination format tournament, will play top overall seed and host Stony Brook, who defeated four-seed UMBC 16-1 in the tournament’s first game.
Brittany MacFawn (17-5) pitched a complete game, allowing seven runs on nine hits with seven strikeouts and three walks. UAlbany has often scored first in its games, but this time surrendered an early run to Binghamton in the top of the second after a scoreless first inning. UAlbany responded immediately in the bottom of the second with a run of its own. Charlise Castro led off the inning with a double down the left field line. Marlin Solano then grounded out to shortstop, before Lauren Alcorn drove in Castro from second with a base hit to center.
After leaving Binghamton scoreless in the top of the third, UAlbany broke the game open in the bottom of the inning with five runs to take a 6-1 lead. Kelly Costello led off with a home run to left. Cocks grounded out to third in the next at bat, before Elizabeth Snow hit a single to left. Castro then hit a two-run home run to left center. Solano followed up with a single to left. Kate Biasi came in to pinch run for Solano at first. Lauren Alcorn then lined out to shortstop for the second out of the inning. Jess Tate hit a two-run home run in the next at bat for UAlbany’s fifth and sixth runs.
After a scoreless fourth, Binghamton began chipping away at UAlbany’s lead with two runs in the top of the fifth, and one in the top of the sixth, shrinking the lead to 6-4. The Danes extended the lead once again with two runs in the bottom of the sixth. Alcorn led off flying out to right. Tate hit a single to center, and advanced to second on a wild pitch during Alexa Toole’s at bat, and advanced to third on an error by Binghamton’s catcher. Toole eventually struck out, and then Vicky McFarland hit an RBI single to shortstop, scoring Tate. McFarland stole second before Costello hit a single to third, advancing McFarland to third. Cocks then hit a single to left center, scoring McFarland from third, and giving UAlbany an 8-4 lead.
Binghamton scored three runs in the top of the seventh, but ultimately fell short in its comeback attempt. McFarland hit 2-4 with one run scored, one RBI, and a stolen base. Costello hit 2-3 with a home run. Castro hit 3-3 with a double, a home run and two RBIs. And Tate his 2-3 with a home run and two RBIs.
UAlbany plays in the winner’s bracket tomorrow morning at 11:00 a.m. against top seed Stony Brook. Binghamton will play UMBC at 1:30 p.m. in the tournament’s first elimination game. The loser of UAlbany’s game will play again tomorrow afternoon at 4:00 p.m. against the winner of the Binghamton/UMBC game.
