ALBANY, N.Y. – After 25 straight games on the road and five delayed home games, the University at Albany baseball team (11-15, 3-7 AE) finally hosted its 2017 home opener, the first game of a three-game series against Binghamton (14-7, 4-2 AE). The Great Danes fell by a final score of 7-2.
The first two and a half innings went by without a score before UAlbany broke the 0-0 tie with two runs in the bottom of the third inning. Connor Powers hit a single to right field that scored both Marc Wangenstein from third base and Nick Kondo from second.
Two more scoreless innings went by before Binghamton broke open the game with four runs in the top of the sixth to take a 4-2 lead. The Bearcats scored one run in the top of the seventh, and two more in the top of the eight, to bring the final score to 7-2.
Matt Hinchy led UAlbany with two hits, and Powers had two RBIs. Great Dane starter, Brendan Smith (1-3), lasted 5.0 innings, giving up four runs (three earned) on eight hits with three strikeouts and one walk. Hunter Torres pitched 3.0 innings in relief, allowing three runs (two earned) on five hits with two walks. Ray Weber pitched the final inning, allowing no hits and recording one strikeout.
UAlbany scored two runs on four hits with two errors. Binghamton scored seven runs on 13 hits with one error.
The Great Danes will conclude their series with Binghamton with a doubleheader on Saturday. First pitch is scheduled for 12:00 p.m.
