Softball Advances to Third Straight AE Championship; MacFawn Breaks Win Record
Photo: Charlise Castro (above) hit a go-ahead two-run homer that led the Great Danes to a 4-2 victory over Binghamton on Friday, May 10. (Courtesy of Captive Photons)
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VESTAL, N.Y. – For the third straight season the University at Albany softball team is championship bound. UAlbany defeated Binghamton, 4-2, on Friday, May 10 at the BU Sports Complex in day two of the 2013 America East Tournament. The win advanced the top seeded Great Danes to their third consecutive America East Conference Championship, set for tomorrow.
Junior Charlise Castro highlighted the game with a go-ahead, two-run homer, to give the purple and gold their second tournament victory. Brittany MacFawn pitched the complete game. It was the junior's 28th win of this season, breaking both a program and America East single-season record.
The No. 2 seeded Bearcats scored first in the top of inning one on a two-out RBI single by freshman Lisa Cardogan. More damage was prevented as senior Taylor Franich gunned down a runner at the plate.
UAlbany (37-13) quickly responded in the bottom of the frame, evening the game, 1-1. Sophomore Vicky McFarland ripped a leadoff double to the center field fence. She was driven-in by freshman Annie Johnson, who slapped a ball down the left line for an RBI single.
Homers in back-to-back half innings tied the game at two. First, in the bottom of the second it was Kylie Apostolina who showed veteran leadership. The senior catcher hit a solo shot over the center field fence for her first homer of the season. However, freshman Tiffany McIntosh tied the game once again with a Binghamton (30-16, 14-4 AE) homer in the top of the third.
UAlbany, again responded, this time in a big way. Castro drove her eighth homer of the season over the left field scoreboard, a two-run shot in the bottom of the third. It gave the Great Danes a 4-2 lead that they would never relinquish.
MacFawn (28-7) pitched her 32nd complete game of the season. The right-handed hurler allowed eight hits, one walk, two earned runs and struck out four. Sophomore Demi Laney (15-7) took the loss for the Bearcats. She went 2.1 innings allowing five hits, four earned runs and one walk. She struck out three.
“We hit the ball much better today than yesterday,” said head coach Chris Cannata. “It was big for us to come out of the winner's bracket. We can rest and prepare for tomorrow while our opponent has to play at least one more game today.”
The Great Danes will look to reclaim their 2011 America East Conference Champion title tomorrow, Saturday, May 11. First pitch is set for noon at the BU Sports Complex. UAlbany plays No. 4 seeded Stony Brook (33-23) who defeated Binghamton, 9-0, to advance. The Seawolves need two wins in the championship, as the tournament is double-elimination. The title game will be televised through americaeast.com.
