Softball

Binghamton Goes Back-To-Back, Claims 2026 Northeast Delta Dental #AESB Championship

ORONO, Maine – No. 2 Binghamton took down No. 4 UMass Lowell twice on Saturday, 10-8 and 4-2 to capture the program’s second straight conference crown and win the 2026 Northeast Delta Dental #AESB Championship.
 
In the opener No. 2 Binghamton came back from a 7-0 deficit after four innings to stun the River Hawks 10-8, buoyed by an eight-run sixth inning. In the second game, Rachel Carey led off the bottom of the 1st with a home run and the Bearcats never trailed, though UMass Lowell did load the bases in the top of the seventh, and escaped with the 4-2 victory.
 
Rachel Carey was named the Most Outstanding Player after batting .471 with eight hits and 12 RBI. She added tournament-records of seven runs scored and four home runs to spearhead Bearcat offense.
 
Joining Carey on the All-Championship team was Delaney Glover, Olivia Kennedy and Lauren Payne from Binghamton. Giana LaCedra, Isabel Quintanilla and Thyanais Santiago were selected from UMass Lowell. Also on the All-Championship Team was Ava Zettlemoyer (Maine), Deanna Drahek (UAlbany), Julia Pike (UAlbany), Gabriella Gesualdo (Bryant) and Lexi Powell (Bryant).
 
Binghamton finds out their NCAA Tournament fate tomorrow at 7:00 p.m. on ESPN2.
 
 
No. 2 Binghamton 10, No. 4 UMass Lowell 8
  • Each of the first two River Hawks singled to start the contest and Isabel Quintanilla blasted a three-run homer for the early 3-0 advantage.
  • UMass Lowell kept the offense going in the second with three straight singles, and a pair of runs to chase starter Olivia Kennedy and grab a 5-0 advantage. Quintanilla singled home another run for the 6-0 advantage.
  •  Giana LaCedra worked through the third and the fourth, while her offense gave her one more run for a 7-0 advantage.
  • Binghamton finally broke through with two runs in the bottom of the fifth, but the River Hawks got one back on a groundout to led 8-2.
  • The Bearcats plated six runs in the bottom of the sixth as each of the first six runners reached base. Rachel Carey drove in a pair of runs with a single. Maddy Dodig gave the Bearcats are 9-8 lead  and Megan Wolf made it 10-8 on a sacrifice fly.
  • Olivia Kennedy and the defense shut the door in the seventh with a groundout and 6-4-3 double play to close out the contest.
 
No. 2 Binghamton 4, No. 4 UMass Lowell 2
  • Rachel Carey ripped the first pitch she saw for a home run and 1-0 Bearcat lead, but UMass Lowell tied it up on a bases-loaded walk. Kennedy induced a force out at second to get out of the frame.
  • Maddy Dodig drove in Elisa Allen with a single to center in the bottom of the third for a 2-1 lead and Payne made it 3-1 with a solo shot in the fourth.
  • The River Hawks made it 4-2 in the top of the sixth and threatened in the top of the seventh, loading the bases with two outs. However, Kennedy induced the groundout to start the championship celebration.
  • Kennedy pitched 13.0 innings on the day to earn both victories, allowing a combined 10 hits, three earned runs and five walks with one strikeout.
 
ABOUT AMERICA EAST 
Founded in 1979, the America East Conference is an elite NCAA Division I athletic conference that fosters an environment for student-athletes to become champions. Comprised of academically renowned, like-minded member institutions located in the Northeast region of the United States, America East is committed to broad-based excellence and progressive in its approach to supporting its more than 3,500 student-athletes across 18 sponsored sports. For more information, visit www.AmericaEast.com and follow the America East Conference and its social media channels, @AmericaEast.  
 
- America East Conference – Where Champions Rise -