Binghamton University’s softball team suffered tough losses this past weekend while facing the University of Maine. The Black Bears swept Binghamton in a three-game series, giving the Bearcats a 15-11 record on the season, including 3-6 in America East play.

In Game 1, three runs came across the plate for the Black Bears in the first three innings. Alexis Souhlaris of Maine began the first inning of play with a bunt single. Two costly throwing errors committed by Binghamton allowed Souhlaris to score later on in the inning, giving the Black Bears a 1-0 lead. In the second inning, Hilary Kane hit a solo homer to put Maine up 2-0. Souhlaris scored again in the third after a single, two stolen bases and a Binghamton error. This gave Maine a 3-0 lead going into the fourth.

Maine’s final run did not come until the sixth inning, when Kristen Calvetti led off with a single to right field. A sacrifice bunt and a wild pitch advanced Calvetti to third. Kristin Allen then hit a sacrifice fly allowing Calvetti to score and giving Maine a 4-0 lead. The Binghamton offense in Game 1 was not as productive as usual, with only three Bearcats getting hits. Juniors Deannie Plemon and Stephanie DeLuca each had one hit and freshman Jessica Phillips went 3-for-4 with a double. This was not enough, however, as Binghamton went on to lose Game 1 by a score of 4-0.

Game 2 was not much better for the Bearcats. Maine took the lead early on, scoring a run in each of the first two innings. Two singles and a failed attempt at a fielder’s choice loaded the bases for the Black Bears in the first inning. Binghamton was able to get within one out of ending the inning, but a fielding error allowed Maine to score. In the second inning, after hitting a single and stealing second, Souhlaris was able to score on yet another error committed by the Bearcats.

From here, it only got worse for Binghamton. The Black Bears scored two more runs in the fifth off of two doubles, bringing the score to 4-0 in favor of Maine. The Bearcats had five hits in the game, but were unable to score any runs and fell to the Black Bears 4-0 for the second time that day.

Maine completed the sweep on Sunday afternoon with a 3-2 victory over Binghamton. Neither team scored until the fifth inning when all three runs for the Black Bears crossed the plate. Jenny MacDowell was the first to strike with a single. A sacrifice bunt and an RBI triple by Brynne Davis allowed the runner to score, putting Maine up by one. A wild throw into the dugout on the third base line, followed by a double and a single, gave Maine a 3-0 lead going into the sixth. Binghamton answered back with two runs in the sixth, however, with help from singles by Jessica Phillips, Stephanie Valencia, Deannie Plemon and Stephanie DeLuca. Even with the four hits, the Bearcats were unable to plate any more runs and the score stayed at 3-2 for the remainder of the game.

The Bearcats are set to resume play this Wednesday at home with a doubleheader against Niagara. The game is scheduled for 3 p.m. at the East Gym Field.