Softball Advances With Win Over Binghamton, But Falls To Maine In Championship Round
UALBANY 6, BINGHAMTON 4 I MAINE 14, UALBANY 1
VESTAL, N.Y. – With a 6-4 victory over top-seeded Binghamton in the 2016 America East Softball Championship, the University at Albany softball team advanced to the title round for the fifth time in the last six years, Saturday at Bearcats Sports Complex. However, the Great Danes' season came to an end, falling to the second-seeded Maine Black Bears 14-1 in five innings. With the split, UAlbany closed the 2016 season with a 34-18 overall record.
“I'm really proud of how far this team has come since we started this season,” said Head Coach Chris Cannata. “It's always a tough day when you have to say goodbye to the seniors. They have been a big part of our lives for the last four years. We will miss them on the field as players but we will especially miss being around them as people. Great kids with great character and I know they will go on to be successful in the next chapters of their life.”
In game one, sophomore Devin Durando (17-8) earned the win, holding the Bearcats to four unearned runs and four hits, while striking out two.
Offensively, the Great Danes totaled seven hits, led by freshman McKenzie Bump and junior Liz Snow who both went 2-for-4 at the plate. In addition, sophomore Donna Conrad led the squad with two runs batted in, going 1-for-3.
UAlbany got the bats going early, scoring four runs in the bottom of the first. Bump, senior Maggie Cocks, and Snow loaded the bases, all knocking singles into the outfield. Conrad followed with an RBI single to right and junior Mackenzie Cleary was hit by a pitch, giving the Danes a 2-0 advantage with one out. An error on freshman Chelsea Henige's grounder brought in two, stretching the lead to four.
Binghamton got three back in the top of the second, on a throwing error, Kate Richard's sacrifice fly, and Carrie Maniccia's RBI single to right.
However, the Great Danes held their lead tight, scoring two runs in the bottom of the second. Bump led off with a double to left-centerfield and senior Kelly Costello reached on an error. Snow's liner to left brought in Bump and Costello crossed home on Conrad's fielder's choice for a 6-3 lead.
Binghamton managed one run in the fourth on Richard's second sac fly of the game, but that would be it for the Bearcats. Durando allowed just one hit and three stranded base runners the rest of the way.
Cara Martin (12-5) took the loss for Binghamton, allowing six runs (three earned) and six hits in 1.1 innings of work.
Advancing to the championship series, the Great Danes faced No. 2 Maine who had yet to record a loss in the double-elimination tournament. The Black Bears totaled 18 hits en route to scoring 14 runs in the triumph over UAlbany.
Maine got its offense going early, scoring four runs on five hits in the top of the first. Janelle Bouchard, Felicia Lennon, Alyssa Derrick and Kristen Niland all had RBI singles.
The Black Bears added two more in the second to take a 6-0 lead on Bouchard's two-run home run, and then scored five in the third on seven hits.
Snow put the Great Danes on the board in the fourth with a leadoff home run over the left field wall. However, that would be UAlbany's lone run of the ballgame.
Maine added three more runs on Erika Leonard's bases loaded double in the fourth. America East Pitcher of the Year, Erin Bogdanovich, capped the contest with three straight outs in the fifth, giving Maine its first America East title since 2004.
Junior Caitlin Cooper (3-3) took the loss, allowing six runs and six hits, while striking out one in two innings in the circle. Freshman Celeste Verdolivo came out of the pen to throw the final three frames.
Bogdanovich (10-4) earned the win and was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player, going 2-0 on the week with a save and allowed just two earned runs in 13.1 innings of work.
For UAlbany, Maggie Cocks, Devin Durando and Liz Snow were named to the All-Championship Team.
