UMBC, Stony Brook, Binghamton Win on Day 1 of 2019 #AESB Championship
WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – A no-hitter and clutch hitting highlighted Day 1 of the 2019 America East Softball Championship as UMBC, Stony Brook and Binghamton all posted victories Wednesday at the Hartford Softball Field.
The fourth-seeded Retrievers beat fifth-seeded Hartford, 3-0, behind a no-hitter from Courtney Coppersmith in the first game of the day while third-seeded Stony Brook scored five times in the first two innings en route to a 7-3 win over sixth-seeded Binghamton in the second contest. The Bearcats bounced back with a 5-3 win over the Hawks in game three, the first elimination game of the tournament.
UMBC 3, Hartford 0
Courtney Coppersmith pitched her fourth no-hitter of the season and UMBC plated three runs to win its America East Championship opener. The Retrievers scored single runs in their first three trips to the plate and rode Coppersmith’s performance in the circle to win their championship opener for the first time since 2007. Coppersmith, the America East Pitcher and Rookie of the Year, struck out 10 and walked four in her complete-game effort. Julia Keffler had two of UMBC’s seven hits, scored a run and had an RBI. Julianna Kocenski allowed just two earned runs for Hartford.
Stony Brook 7, Binghamton 3
Irene Rivera reached base four times and drove in five runs to lead Stony Brook to win over Binghamton in its first league tournament game. The Seawolves scored twice in the first and three more times in the second as Rivera’s bases clearing double gave her team a 5-0 lead after two. After the two teams each plated a run in the fourth, Binghamton drew within three by scoring a pair in the sixth before the Seawolves made it 7-3 in the home half of the frame. Rivera led Stony Brook, which picked up its 30th win of the season, with three hits, including a pair of doubles. Sarah Benn paced Binghamton with two hits, including a double, an RBI and two runs scored. Stony Brook’s Melissa Rahrich allowed three earned runs in a complete-game effort to pick up her 17th win of the year.
Binghamton 5, Hartford 3
Binghamton pounded out 14 hits and avoided elimination with a win over Hartford to move onto day two. The Bearcats scored three times in the fifth with the key hit coming on Sarah Benn’s two-run double that broke a 2-2 tie. Benn added another run-scoring double in the sixth and drove in three in the game. Julianna Kocenski had one of Hartford six hits, her second homer of the season. Morgan Bienkowski allowed three runs and struck out five in a complete-game win for the Bearcats.
UMBC will face top-seeded UMass Lowell in the first game Thursday at 11 a.m. while Stony Brook will play second-seeded UAlbany at 1:30 p.m. Binghamton will play the lowest seeded team among the losers of the early games at 4 p.m.
Visit Championship Central for links to box scores and highlights from Wednesday's game and watch live and live stats links for Thursday's games.
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