Baseball Drops Two To First-Place Binghamton On Senior Day

GAME ONE  I  GAME TWO

ALBANY, N.Y. – Facing first-place Binghamton in a key conference doubleheader Saturday at Varsity Field, the University at Albany baseball team suffered a 13-5 loss to open the day and then was edged 3-2 in the nightcap. With the two wins, Binghamton (25-21, 17-3 AE) clinched the America East regular season title, while the Great Danes fell to 9-25 on the season and 7-12 in conference play.

In the opener, UAlbany hung around early, but the Bearcats used 18 hits en route to the victory, putting up runs in seven of nine innings.

Binghamton scored two in the first before the Great Danes stole the lead in the bottom of the second with three runs on three hits. Evan Harasta led off the frame with a single to left and Tre Todd followed with a double to left-centerfield, setting up senior Joey Tracy's RBI single through the right side. Karson Canaday's RBI fielder's choice gave the Danes a 3-2 advantage.

The Bearcats tied it up in the third and took a 4-3 lead in the fourth on Chris McGee's RBI single to right.

UAlbany answered back with a run in the bottom half of the frame on Kevin Donati's RBI single to right that plated Todd.

However, Binghamton's bats exploded from there, scoring four runs in the fifth and three in the sixth to take the lead for good.

UAlbany put one last run on the board in the seventh, making the score 11-5 on Matt Hinchy's RBI single to centerfield. But, Binghamton countered with a run in the eighth and one in the ninth for the final 13-5 score.

Ryan Stinar (5-1) took the loss for UAlbany, allowing eight runs and 10 hits, while striking out three in 4.2 innings on the mound.

Jake Cryts (6-4) earned the win, holding the Danes to three earned runs and five hits. Rob Hardy picked up the save, tossing four efficient innings out of the bullpen.

In the nightcap, UAlbany slackened the Bearcats' bats, holding Binghamton to just four hits in the contest. 

However, in the pitchers' duel, Binghamton struck first with two runs in the second and never lost the lead.

UAlbany cut the margin to one, 2-1, in the third as Tracy doubled to the right-centerfield gap and Canaday followed with an RBI single through the right side.

In the sixth, McGee knocked an RBI double to give the Bearcats a two-run advantage, but the Great Danes countered back immediately with a run in the bottom half of the inning on Harasta's bases loaded groundout.

Trailing by one, 3-2, the Danes looked to rally in the bottom of the seventh as Connor Powers led off with a single to right. He advanced to third on Tracy's sac bunt and a groundout, but Binghamton's Mike Bunal recorded the final out to end the ballgame.

Bunal (7-3) earned the complete-game win, allowing two runs and five hits, while striking out eight.

For UAlbany, senior Brendan Ryan (5-3) took the loss, charged with three runs and three hits, while striking out three. Out of the bullpen, Hunter Torres held Binghamton to one hit and no runs in two innings of work.

Powers led UAlbany's offense, going 2-for-3 at the plate.

The Great Danes will look to bounce back in Sunday's 2 p.m. series finale.