Stepping onto a softball field with a depleted pitching staff is never easy, a fact the Binghamton University softball team learned firsthand Wednesday when it dropped a doubleheader to visiting Maryland-Baltimore County, 14-3 and 6-1, at the East Gym Field.
The Bearcats (4-21, 0-6 America East) came into the series without top pitcher Cyrilla Suker, who will miss the remainder of the season due to an arm injury, and Nicole Constantatos, who is fresh off an injury herself, in the first game.
“I don’t have one pitcher who is 100 percent healthy right now,” said BU head coach Ali Brian. “And that is incredibly frustrating.”
In her return Constantatos allowed 13 runs, 11 earned over four innings to take the loss. She also struck out three batters.
The Retrievers (17-19, 6-2) received major offensive production from catcher Kali Shirk, who had six RBI in the game.
Adding the offensive spark for Binghamton was freshman catcher Deannie Plemon, who hit a two-run homer off UMBC pitcher Ashley Gray in the third inning. Just prior, shortstop Shannon McLeese had singled to right field, scoring Sandy Meadows.
It was Plemon’s third home run of the season which gives her the team lead. Her 17 RBI also lead the team.
Binghamton second baseman Bri Andrews doubled in the first inning of game one, but was stranded when the Bearcats offense couldn’t muster another hit in the inning off of Gray.
“We’re hitting the ball hard, but unfortunately we’re just hitting it at people,” Brian said. “That’s just the way the game goes sometimes.”
Gray, who came into the game leading the America East in RBI with 28, added another when she singled in the first inning to score second baseman Dana Shepherd. She pitched five innings in the game and gave up six hits while striking out seven batters.
In the second game, Andrews doubled in the first inning, only to be thrown out at third base trying to advance. She later provided the lone Bearcats run when she crushed an offering from UMBC ace Stephanie Weigman over the left field fence in the sixth.
“I like that Andrews kid, she’s got a great swing,” said UMBC head coach Joe French.
Junior pitcher Jessica Whitaker started the second game of the day and went 4 and two-thirds innings, giving up seven hits and striking out two. Patty Egan pitched the remainder of the game, allowing two hits and notching two strikeouts.
Next up Vermont: This Saturday, the Bearcats are scheduled to host Vermont for a three-game series. A doubleheader is slated for 1 p.m. Saturday, with the series finale set for noon Sunday.
The Catamounts (8-19, 1-7) dropped a doubleheader at Albany on Wednesday, 3-2 and 5-2. Junior infielder Hayley Crosby leads the team in homers with three, while senior shortstop Kate Haber leads in total bases with 30. Senior pitcher/first baseman Aimee Kern leads the team offensively with 13 RBI, and on the mound with 83 1/3 innings pitched.