Albany, N.Y.- UAlbany softball solidified at least third place in the America East Conference Tournament with a doubleheader sweep over Binghamton on Friday, April 20 at Albany Field. The Great Danes only had to play 10 innings in two games, scoring 21 runs and holding the Bearcats to just three runs. UAlbany catcher Kylie Apostolina went 2-for-4 in the doubleheader with two homeruns, four rbis and one stolen base.
UAlbany (30-10, 11-3 AE) came out strong in game one, scoring seven runs on five hits through the first two innings to go up 7-0. Charlise Castro highlight the seven-run two-inning rally in the bottom of the first with a three-run homer to left that cleared the scoreboard. Later on in the bottom of the second, Apostolina would follow her teammate Castro with line-drive two-run homer to center to cap the seven-run stretch.
Binghamton (15-24, 6-8 AE) looked to climb back in the top of the third with a triple to right from Caytlin Friis then teammate Megham Tucker grounded to third which drove in Friis to cut the deficit, 7-1.
The Great Danes would tack on two in the bottom of the fourth while pitcher Brittany MacFawn (14-4) would end the game in the bottom of the fifth with a 1-2-3 inning on three pitches.
In game two, UAlbany pitcher Brittany Schwieger (13-4) had a tough time finding the zone, walking the first two batters and would allow Jessica Phillips, who led off the inning with a walk, to score on a wild pitch to give Binghamton the early 1-0 lead.
The Great Danes picked up their pitcher as Vicky McFarland led off the bottom of the first with a home run on the first pitch she saw. UAlbany would score two more in the inning to lead 3-1 after one. Great Danes would tally three more in the bottom of the third with Apostolina hitting her second home run of the doubleheader.
The Bearcats cut the deficit to four, 6-2, with an rbi double by Caytlin Friis but it would not be enough as the Great Danes responded with six in the bottom half of the inning to induce the "eight-run" rule.
UAlbany will take its five-game winning streak on Senior Day Saturday, April 21 at noon against Binghamton in game three.
