Binghamton University women’s softball started the 2010 campaign going 2-3 at the Georgia Southern Eagle Classic under first-year head coach Michelle Burrell. In a four-team tournament the Bearcats faced Lipscomb University, Oakland University and Georgia Southern University.

“We had a good, competitive first weekend,” said junior catcher Deannie Plemon. “It’s exciting to get the ball rolling on our season and we are really hoping for a great outcome this year.”

Highlighting the first day of play was Binghamton’s 10th-inning victory over Georgia Southern in the nightcap. With the Bearcats scoreless until the top of the fifth, sophomore Briana Andrews and Shannon McLeese ran home off of an error by a GSU outfielder to take a 2-1 lead. But the Eagles tied the score in the second half of the inning. In the face of a game-winning opportunity in the bottom of the seventh, the Bearcats failed to capitalize on a tough double-steal.

With both teams tied through the seventh, eighth and ninth innings, the 10th proved to be the deal-breaker for Binghamton. Due to extra-inning tiebreak rules, each team is allowed to place a runner on second to start off each inning. In the 10th, because of the placed runner, a single, a walk and a fielder’s choice, the Bearcats were able to load the bases. Junior Kelly Schuldt smashed a three-run double down the left field line before being called out at third. Even though the Bearcats gave up one run in the bottom of the 10th, Schuldt’s game-changing hit proved to be enough for BU as they held on for the win.

Binghamton lost its season opener, however, to Lipscomb 5-4. Although the Bearcats posted a furious comeback led by Plemon with a fourth-inning home run, they weren’t able to hold on as the Bisons reached home on a Bearcat error in the bottom of the seventh.

“Obviously a one-run loss is disappointing,” said Plemon, “But luckily it’s early on in the season and we are growing as a team with every game before conference.”

Day 2 brought on the same result as Day 1 as the Bearcats went 1-1 again. In Game 1, BU found itself down to Oakland 4-3 in the bottom of the sixth despite a Jessica Phillips solo homer in the fifth. The Bearcats battled back in the seventh, however, when senior Stephanie Valencia singled, which would eventually set up Plemon for a home run that sealed the deal for BU in a 5-4 victory.

The Bearcat offense, however, wasn’t the only contributing factor to the victory. Freshman pitcher Rhoda Marsteller went 6.2 innings while firing eight strikeouts and three walks, allowing four earned runs on only five hits. Marsteller was taken out in the sixth before returning to close the game with the final two outs. With the win, Marsteller improved to 2-0 on the season.

“I thought she did an excellent job,” said Burrell. “We weren’t sure, since she is a freshman, how far she would go into the games. But she really showed how she has the ability to pitch full games and that will really help us.”

After three games, the Bearcats clinched the No. 2 seed for bracket play. Junior Stephanie DeLuca and Schuldt held their own with two hits apiece, while Phillips also went 2-for-2, which included the second home run of her career. However, because of five BU errors, GSU pulled away with a 6-4 win.

On the final day of play, Oakland defeated BU in extra innings by a score of 6-4 to clinch third place. In the bottom of the seventh, the Bearcats were down 2-1 but a walk and a passed ball tied the game to force extra innings. The tie was broken in the top of the eighth when a single by Oakland’s Erin Galloway drove in two runs. Even with Marsteller allowing only one earned run and striking out six through eight innings, the Bearcats gave Oakland its first victory of the season.

“I was really happy with how they never gave up,” said Burrell. “We fell behind in pretty much every game and I thought it was great how we really played seven innings to the fullest.”

The Bearcats look to improve their 2-3 record at the upcoming George Washington Colonial Classic being held on March 6 and 7.