STONY BROOK, N.Y. – Second-seeded Albany scored all five of its runs in the third inning and got a strong effort in the circle from Mackenzie Thompson on its way to a 5-2 win over third-seeded Binghamton in the fifth game of the 2014 America East Softball Championship Saturday at Stony Brook’s University Field. The win sends Albany to the championship round for the fourth-straight year and ninth time in the last 10.
The Great Danes will face top-seeded Stony Brook for the league title Sunday at 11 a.m. at University Field. If Albany wins that game, there will be a second game immediately to follow. Live streaming of Sunday’s championship round will be available for free at AmericaEast.TV.
Binghamton (22-25) threatened in the first inning, putting its first two runner aboard, but Thompson retired the next three hitters to end the threat.
Albany (31-11) did all its damage in the fifth. With one out, Vicky McFarland singled and came home on an run-scoring double by Kelly Costello. She came home on a fielder’s choice after two more Great Danes reached base. Then with two out, Marlin Solano, an America East All-Rookie choice, crushed a three-run homer to left field to five Albany a 5-0 advantage.
The Bearcats added single runs in the fourth and sixth innings on solo shots by Chrysti Eichner and Jessica Bump.
Binghamton, which enjoyed its fifth-straight 20 win season, threatened in the seventh, putting on two runners to bring the tying run to the plate, but first-team all-leaguer Brittany MacFawn completed the save by getting Gabby Bracchi to hit into a fielder’s choice.
Thompson picked up her 10th win of the year by allowing just two runs on four hits over six innings of work and MacFawn earned her fourth save.