If you were debating who would break a record first, between Barry Bonds’ chase on Babe Ruth’s 714 career home runs or Rose Barre’s pursuit of most triples in a season, here’s an update: Barre won.
Unfortunately for Barre, her team was not as successful.
Binghamton (12-32) was swept by visiting Cornell (30-23) in a non-conference doubleheader at the East Gym Complex, as the Big Red took the opener 7-1 before shutting out the Bearcats 10-0 in the nightcap.
“It’s hard to take a step backward after a great series with Maine,” said head coach Holly Brown. “After giving the best team in the conference what we gave them … it’s not good.”
Barre’s record breaker came in the bottom of the fourth inning when she drilled her sixth triple of the season to right field, scoring junior first baseman Emelie Palmcrantz from second and etching her name into the record books. The previous Binghamton record was five, held by Mollie Lehman. The triple, Barre’s ninth of her career, also broke Lehman’s all-time school record of eight.
“Rose wears her heart on her sleeve,” Brown said. “She’s got more heart than anyone who’s ever walked through our doors.”
Just as tying Lehman’s record was the farthest thing from Barre’s mind against Boston two weeks ago, breaking the record didn’t seem to faze her. Upon being told of her historic hit, Barre stood in silence for several moments.
“It’s great to break the record,” said Barre, who looked visibly distraught. “But it’s difficult to look at individual records in comparison to the team’s [record].”
Barre would go 3-for-5 in the doubleheader, raising her batting average to a team-best and career-high .379.
On the mound, senior pitcher Katie Hansen had an uncharacteristically rough outing in the opener, surrendering seven runs in seven innings. The Big Red broke the game open with four runs in the fourth inning, before shortstop Samantha Hare hit a two-run homer to center field in the sixth.
“We just didn’t bring it,” Brown said. “We want to finish the season strong, but we just didn’t have it today.”
Cornell started off the nightcap in similar fashion. After first baseman Erin Murtha singled home a run in the first inning, right fielder Jessica Berkey sent two more across home plate.
The Big Red took a 4-0 lead into the fourth, where they spit out six more runs on three consecutive homers. Catcher Nicole Cheever sent a three-run shot to center field to begin the onslaught. Berkey followed with a long solo blast over the right-field fence and left fielder Meghan Risca chipped in with a solo bomb of her own to left.
With all that run support, pitcher Haley Mirer insured the victory, throwing a two-hit shutout. Mirer struck out eight batters, did not issue a walk and retired six of the final seven batters she faced to close the game in five innings.
“This was the first time in a long time that we weren’t able to produce,” Brown said.
The Bearcats will conclude their 2006 campaign this weekend with a three-game series against Vermont at home. The first game of Saturday’s doubleheader will began at noon, followed by the final game of the series and season on Sunday at noon.
Although the playoffs are not around the corner, commencement is. The Vermont series will mark the last time seniors Hansen, Barre, Lauren Verrusio and Nicole Vitello will don the green-and-black.
“[The Vermont series] still means something to the team and to the four seniors,” Barre said.