The string of loses continues to get longer for the Binghamton University women’s softball team.
The Bearcats still remain winless in conference play as the Black Bears took both Saturday doubleheader games by the scores of 5-3 and 9-0. Then, Maine senior Jenna Balent recorded a no-hitter in Sunday’s game, as the Black Bears cruised to a 12-0 victory.
Game 1 on Saturday started out strong for the Bearcats. After giving up a run on the mound in the top of the second inning, freshman Meghan Tucker helped herself out at the plate with a leadoff double. Tucker eventually scored on a Stephanie Kolodziejski sacrifice.
Binghamton took the 2-1 lead later in the inning when senior Sandy Meadows singled, bringing in sophomore Deannie Plemon, who had reached base on a Maine error.
Maine tied the game in the top of the fifth inning with a double from junior Alexis Souhlaris, who was the Black Bears’ starting pitcher for the game before moving to centerfield in the fourth inning.
The Black Bears’ power bats came through in the top of the sixth inning with two home runs, the first a two-run shot from sophomore Terren Hall followed by a solo home run from senior Courtney Gingrich, putting Maine up 5-2 and forcing the Bearcats to make a pitching change.
Binghamton made a two-out rally in the bottom of the seventh inning when Plemon singled, bringing home sophomore Steph Deluca, who reached base off of a walk from Maine freshman Ashley Kelley. Kelley was able to rebound though, forcing Kolodziejski to ground out, which secured the 5-3 victory for the Black Bears.
Meadows, Plemon and Tucker each had two hits for the Bearcats. Tucker and Deluca drew two walks apiece.
In Game 2, the Bearcats ran into Maine’s top pitcher, Jenna Balent.
The senior hurler had Bearcat batters puzzled all day as she held Binghamton to only two hits. Junior Stephanie George was the big bat for the Black Bears in Game 2 with four hits and three RBI.
Maine quickly grabbed a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning and never looked back, as they tacked on three more in the third and the fifth, and two more in the top of the sixth before the mercy rule was put in effect at 9-0.
Gingrich drove in two RBI and Waters added two hits for the Black Bears. Deluca and sophomore Kelly Schuldt had Binghamton’s two hits.
Balent got the start for Maine in Game 3 on Easter Sunday, and she appeared to pick up where she left off on Saturday.
Game 3 was a pitching duel between Balent and Bearcats junior Cyrilla Suker (who pitched a no-hitter against Coppin State on April 7) until the fifth inning. There were only a combined two hits (both by Maine) until the Black Bears stepped up to the plate in the top of the fifth. Souhlaris broke it open for the Black Bears with a two-run home run, which capped off a three-run inning.
The wheels came off in the top of the sixth when Maine scored nine runs on seven hits, aided by three Bearcat errors in the field. Balent preserved the no-hitter in the bottom of the inning to get the 12-0 mercy rule victory.
Sunday’s loss brings the Bearcats to a 5-26 record overall and a 0-11 mark in the America East. With the win Maine moved to 26-18 overall and 6-5 in the AE.
Binghamton was scheduled for a double header at St. Francis, Pa. on Wednesday, but the games were canceled due to inclement weather. Binghamton is back in action this Saturday at the East Gym Complex with a double header against I-88 rival Albany. The games begin at noon.