BINGHAMTON, N.Y. – The Hartford softball team was eliminated from the America East Championship Tournament this evening against #4 Binghamton. The Hawks fell in heart-breaking fashion to the Bearcats by a score of, 9-7 after eight innings.
BINGHAMTON 9, HARTFORD 7 (8 Inn.)
Hartford wasted little time getting out of the gates fast, posting the first run of the game in the opening frame. After a lead-off double by Haley Cassidy and a drawn walk from Jordan Nastos, Samantha Nagel capitalized on the scoring opportunity, driving a single into center field to advance Cassidy home from second, giving Hartford an early 1-0 lead. Binghamton would respond immediately after in the bottom half of the first and second innings to take the lead 2-1. In the fifth, Hartford poured on the offense for a six-run half inning, not only tying the game up but taking and padding onto the lead. Chandler Mitchell got the rally started off, digging out a single to the pitcher which was then followed by a single to the first baseman from Nastos. With two runners aboard, Hawks' power threat, Kelsey Galevich stepped up to bat and drilled a two-run double into left center, giving Hartford a 3-2 lead with one swing of the bat. Ally Beck followed Galevich's run scoring double with a knock of her own, lacing a single past the shortstop and into left to bring home both Mara Sczecienski and Galevich, extending the Hawks lead to 5-2. Hartford was able to tack on two more runs in the inning after a few fielding miscues were made by the Bearcats infielders. After the outstanding offensive showing in the top half of the fifth, Binghamton found a way to rally back with one run in the bottom half and two more in both the sixth, seventh and eighth innings, taking the win over the Hawks, 9-7.
NEWS AND NOTES
- The Hawks reached day two of the America East Championship Tournament for the first time since 2017
- Caylee English got the start in the elimination game against Binghamton, throwing 5.1 innings and allowing five runs on six hits and one walk while tallying one strikeout
- Julianna Kocenski (10-16) took the loss after entering the game in relief in the sixth, she allowed four runs on four hits and tallied one strikeout in 2.0 innings of work
- Cassidy recorded her 13th double on the year, tying for the third-most for a single season in Hartford history
- Galevich and Beck led the Hawks' scoring output, recording two RBI each