Harrisonburg, Va. – Binghamton used a big third inning to break open a tie game as it claimed a 15-5 decision over the
Robert Morris University softball team in five innings Saturday at a cold Veterans Memorial Park in the Macado's Invitational.
The Bearcats only outhit the Colonials by the slimmest of margins, 10-9, but RMU was done in by unearned runs and leaving runners on base.
Senior
Haileigh Stocks had her best day of the young season as she went 2-for-3 with a home run, a double, two RBI and two runs scored. The long ball was her first of the season, and 10th of her career, while the two-bagger was her second of the season, and 27th of her career, moving her into sole possession of seventh place all-time at RMU in the latter category.
Junior
Jordan Gurganus had a second straight strong day offensively as she finished 3-for-4 with a RBI. Her third three-hit game of the season, which was the eighth of her career, moved her career hit total to an even 125.
Junior
Stacey Capp contributed to the RMU cause by going 2-for-4 with a double and a RBI. Her two-bagger was her team-leading fifth of the season, and eighth of her career, and helped her notch her second multi-hit effort of 2016.
Binghamton jumped on top right away in the top of the first inning and would never trail.
The Bearcats scored a pair of unearned runs in the first on an infield single, a RMU miscue, a RBI groundout and a RBI single.
Capp ripped a one-out double off the fence in left in the bottom half of the inning. One out later, senior
Kristen Gabelt worked a full count walk to put two on base, but a foul out ended the inning.
A single, a steal, a wild pitch and a Colonial error gave the Bearcats an unearned run in the second.
RMU fought back in the bottom half, and it started when Stocks sliced a one-out double to the fence in right center. Redshirt freshman
Kristen Pray then took a walk before freshman
Taylor Bartlow and Gurganus singled consecutively to bring home one run. Capp then laced a sharp single to left that scored a pair of runs and tied the game. After a fly out, Gabelt walked to reload the bases, but a fielder's choice left the sacks full.
Binghamton blew the game wide open in the third as it scored 11 times, five of which were unearned, while posting just four hits in the inning.
RMU got a couple runs back in the home half as sophomore
Olivia Lorusso worked a seven-pitch walk before Stocks blasted a 1-2 pitch over the fence right down the left field line. One out later, Bartlow worked another seven-pitch walk, and Gurganus followed with a single to left center. RMU would load the bases with two down on a Bearcat error, but a groundout ended the opportunity.
Binghamton used a leadoff double, a groundout and an infield single to scratch across a single tally in the fourth. It might have been more if not for a fine sliding catch in shallow center by senior
Ashley Gerhart.
Senior
Lauren Hackett poked an opposite-field single to right to start the bottom half, but the next three Colonials were retired.
Gurganus' third hit of the day, a single up the middle, provided the only baserunner of the fifth inning for either team.
Gurganus posted her second straight multi-hit game, the sixth of her season and the 38th of her career. Stocks' multi-hit performance was her first of the season, and the 19th of her career, while her multi-RBI outing was her second of the season and the ninth of her career.
Freshman
Kaitlin Ellzy tossed 1.2 innings of hitless, scoreless relief for RMU.
The Colonials will conclude pair in the event Sunday afternoon with matchups against St. Joseph's and nationally ranked James Madison.
