BOX SCORE
WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – In the opening weekend of America East Conference play, the Binghamton Bearcats scored a 13-2 win over the University of Hartford softball team on Sunday afternoon in six innings, completing the three-game sweep of the Hawks. The Bearcats improve to 10-7 overall with a perfect 3-0 mark in America East play while the Hawks fall to 3-14 with an 0-3 record in league play.
The Binghamton Bearcats broke open a 1-1 deadlock in the first inning with four runs in the third and four more in the next frame to take a commanding 9-1 lead over the Hawks. Hartford managed to get one run back in the bottom of the fourth however the Bearcats exploded for four more scores in the top of the sixth inning to seal the game at 13-2.
Following a two-out solo shot by Jessica Philips in the opening inning, Hartford answered in its at-bats as it cashed in on a miscue by the Bearcats' defense. Lead-off batter Shannon Simpkins cashed in on the infield error, reaching first base, and after advancing to second on a sacrifice bunt and stealing third, the left fielder crossed home plate on a single off the bat of Nicole Springer.
The Bearcats bats caught fire in the third and fourth frames. Back-to-back home runs by Phillips, a two run shot, and Deannie Plemon plated three of the Bearcats' four runs in the top of the third while four more runs were pushed across the plate on five Binghamton hits in the fourth inning.
The Hawks saw the scoreboard change one more time in the bottom of the fourth as second baseman Amber Andrews cashed in on another Binghamton fielding error to bring the score to 9-2. After smashing a single down the right field line, the rookie added two extra bases when Anna Blessing bobbled the play. Andrews advanced 60-more feet to home plate on an infield ground out by Chelsey Mooney,
Rhoda Marstellar, a sophomore, earned the win inside of the circle for the Bearcats, allowing just one run on two hits while striking out two. Springer suffered the loss for the Hawks, allowing nine runs – all earned – on 10 hits in 3.0 innings.
Hartford returns to action when it travels to Big East foe Providence for a single game on Thursday, March 31. First pitch is slated for 2:30 p.m.
