VESTAL, N.Y. -- Albany and Binghamton, the top two seeds in the 2013 America East Softball Championship, each used big innings to advance into tournament's winner's bracket Thursday at Bearcats Sports Complex. The Great Danes used a three-run second en route to a 4-1 win over fourth-seeded Stony Brook while the Bearcats rode a six-run sixth to post a 7-1 victory over third-seeded Hartford.
Albany and Binghamton will play tomorrow at 11 a.m., with the winner advancing to Saturday’s championship game. Hartford and Stony Brook will meet in an eliminations game at 1:30 p.m. The winner of that matchup will play the loser of Albany versus Binghamton in the second elimination contest of the day.
Albany 4, Stony Brook 0
Brittany MacFawn was dominant in the circle for top-seeded Albany (36-13) in game one, twirling a complete-game four-hitter to power a 4-0 Great Dane win. The America East Pitcher of the Year moved to 27-7 on the year with her victory, tying a conference record for the most wins in a single season. MacFawn escaped a pair of threats in the sixth and seventh, but was otherwise dominant throughout as she struck out six and did not walk a batter.
The Great Danes offense did its job as well, scoring three runs in the second and adding another in the fifth. Lindsey Stout led the way with two hits and two RBI, while Charlise Castro knocked in a run and also had a pair of hits.
Albany got on the board first in the bottom of the second inning thanks to an error and two walks. Taylor Franich knocked in the game’s first run, scoring Castro from third on an error by the shortstop. Stout then followed with a single to right-center field that plated two more runs for the Great Danes, making the lead 3-0.
The Great Danes tacked on an insurance run in the fifth inning, after Vicky McFarland was hit by a pitch and advanced to second on a sacrifice from Annie Johnson. Castro then ripped a single to left field to score McFarland and extend the lead.
Stony Brook (31-23) had its best chance to score came in the sixth inning, when it left runners on first and second. Olivia Mintun led off the frame with a line drive single to right field and advanced to second when Bria Green reached on an error with one out. MacFawn ended the threat there, however, inducing an infield pop-up and a fly ball to left field.
Allison Cukrov surrendered four runs (three earned) in five and a third innings of work while striking out three. The sophomore was replaced with one out in the sixth by Christine Lucido, who yielded a single to load the bases but was able to work out of trouble without letting in a run.
Binghamton 7, Hartford 1
In the second game of the day Binghamton (30-15) advanced with a 7-1 win behind strong pitching and timely hitting. Demi Laney and Kate Price combined for seven innings of one-run ball, with Laney fanning four and Price slamming the door with two innings of relief. Jessica Phillips led the offense with two RBI.
The damage was done in the bottom of the sixth inning for Binghamton, which pushed across six runs to put the game out of reach. Mikala King started things off with a one-out double to left field and Caitlyn Friis followed with a walk. Head coach Michelle Burrell then rolled the dice with a pinch-hitter, sending McIver up to the plate with the go-ahead run on second. The move paid off, as McIver knocked a single to left field to put the Bearcats on top 2-1.
From there, the gates opened for Binghamton. Five more runs scored in the bottom of the sixth inning as the Bearcats busted out five hits in the frame. The big blow came off the bat of Jessica Phillips, who smoked a two out, two run double.
A scoreless game through three and a half frames, Binghamton finally broke through in the bottom of the fourth. King was in the middle of thing once again, working a walk and bringing Friis to the plate. The sophomore drilled a double to left field that one-hopped the wall and scored King all the way from first base.
Hartford (21-32) responded with a run of its own in the next half inning, as Melanie Maxwell tied it up on one swing of the bat to lead off the frame. It was Maxwell’s third home run of the year, as she turned around the offering from Laney and cleared the wall just under the scoreboard in left field.
Zuzana Kudernatschova went the distance for the Hawks in the loss. Up until Binghamton rallied in the sixth, the junior had limited her opposition to just one run on two hits. Maxwell headlined the offense with two hits and the only RBI while Margaret Betz pounded out two hits of her own in three at-bats.