The Binghamton softball team took two of three from Maine over the weekend, clinching the number three seed entering the America East Tournament.
The Bearcats (20-18, 10-6 AE) split their Friday afternoon doubleheader at the Softball Complex, suffering a 9-0 loss in their first game.
However, the team finished the day strong by defeating the Black Bears (21-20, 10-7 AE) in 10 innings in the nightcap. Heading into the bottom of the fourth inning trailing, 2-0, junior first baseman Taylor Chaffee drove a three-run homer over the center field fence, shifting the scoreboard in the Bearcats favor, 3-2.
After falling behind by a run in the following frame, junior catcher Lisa Cadogan tied the game in the bottom half of the inning on a single. Four and a half scoreless innings followed before Cadogan delivered another RBI single in the 10th to give the Bearcats a 5-4 victory. Junior pitcher Cara Martin, named America East Pitcher of the Week on Monday, pitched 5 2/3 scoreless innings in relief to earn her 10th victory of the year.
Cadogan’s two RBIs in the game were her 45th and 46th of the season, breaking Deannie Plemon’s single-season record of 44 RBIs, which was set in 2010.
“[Cadogan] continues to do a great job for us,” BU head coach Michelle Burrell said. “She doesn’t put too much pressure on herself being in the four spot. I’ve just been really happy with how she’s been throughout the season.”
With the win, Binghamton clinched its fourth trip to the AE postseason tournament in the past five seasons.
Saturday’s closer also featured a BU walk-off. Freshman infielder Stephanie Bielec singled home the winning run in the bottom of the eighth inning, elevating Binghamton to a 5-4 come-from-behind win to secure a series victory over Maine.
Trailing in the seventh inning, 4-2, Cadogan tied the score with a two-run homer. After a scoreless turn at bat for Maine, BU sophomore outfielder Gabby Bracchi reached on a fielding error and junior outfielder Sydney Harbaugh followed with a walk. Bielec then hit a single into right-center field, pushing Bracchi across home for the winning run.
Overall, Cadogan was 5-for-10 over the series. That performance spiked her average to .438, which currently ranks second in the America East.
Winning seven of their past nine games, the Bearcats have recorded their sixth-consecutive 20-win season. Coach Burrell attributes the team’s persistence and hard work to its consistent success.
“There are a lot of little things that [the team has] been doing in practice to get better,” Burrell said. “They’ve been playing with a lot of confidence, and I hope to take that into the next week.”
No. 3 Binghamton is set to face No. 2 Albany in the first round of the American East Tournament, hosted by Stony Brook. First pitch is set for 3:30 p.m. Thursday from University Field in Stony Brook, New York.