UMBC, Stony Brook Advance in Winner's Bracket of 2019 #AESB Championship
WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – Standout pitching performances from first-team All-Conference hurlers Courtney Coppersmith and Melissa Rahrich propelled UMBC and Stony Brook into the winner’s bracket final of the 2019 America East Softball Championship following Day 2 action at the Hartford Softball Field. Binghamton won its second-straight elimination game to stay alive in the final game of the day.
The fourth-seeded Retrievers beat top-seeded UMass Lowell, 5-0, behind Coppersmith’s second no-hitter in as many days in the first game of the day while Melissa Rahrich’s complete-game shutout led third-seeded Stony Brook to a 4-0 victory over second-seeded UAlbany in the second contest. The sixth-seeded Bearcats then beat the Great Danes, 6-2, in the second elimination game of the tournament.
UMBC 5, UMass Lowell 0
Courtney Coppersmith pitched her second-straight no-hitter in the championship and UMBC rode a four-run third inning to advance to the winner’s bracket final. The Retrievers, who will play in the winner’s bracket final for the first time since 2007, got two-run singles from Sierra Pierce and Kaly Winslow to take a 4-0 lead in the third. Winslow delivered another run-scoring hit in the third, a single that plated Pierce. Coppersmith walked the first two batters she faced before retiring 21 of the next 22 batters she faced, the America East Pitcher and Rookie of the Year, struck out 10 and walked four in her complete-game effort. Winslow finished with three hits and three RBI for UMBC.
Stony Brook 4, UAlbany 0
Melissa Rahrich fired a five-hit shutout and had three hits at the plate to lead Stony Brook to a spot in the winner’s bracket final. The Seawolves’ first three hitters of the game reached base with Rahrich delivering the first run of the game with an RBI single. Stony Brook, which earned its 31st win of the season, plated another run on a walk and led 2-0 after a half an inning. Lindsey Osmer delivered two more runs in the fourth with an RBI single. The four-run lead was more than enough for Rahrich, who allowed only five hits, didn’t issue a walk and struck out eight.
Binghamton 6, UAlbany 2
With the game tied 2-2, Binghamton plated four runs in the top of the sixth to win its second-straight elimination game and keep its tournament hopes alive. Binghamton wasted no time getting on the board, scoring two in the first on a two-run single by Hannah Lyons. UAlbany, which had won the two previous #AESB titles, tied it with two in the fourth via a run-scoring triple from Amelia Ely, who then scored on a sacrifice fly. The Bearcats re-took the lead in the fourth with Mikayla Alvarez providing the key hit, a two-run single. Lyons went 3-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored. All-Rookie selection Morgan Bienkowski allowed just two runs while striking out seven to earn the win.
UMBC and Stony Brook will square off in the first game Friday at 11 a.m. with a berth in the championship game on the line. Binghamton will face UMass Lowell in an elimination game at 1:30 p.m. with the winner facing the loser of UMBC-Stony Brook to decide the other championship game participant.
Visit Championship Central for links to box scores and recaps from Wednesday’s and Thursday’s games and watch live and live stats links for Friday’s games.
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