The Stony Brook softball team reasserted its dominance over Binghamton in the teams’ final America East series against each other by winning both games of a Sunday doubleheader.
The Seawolves (22-12, 3-3 AE) never trailed during either game, winning 8-1 and then 4-2.
Stony Brook was leading 3-1 in the third inning of game one on Saturday afternoon, thanks to an early rally led by center fielder Alicia Orosco’s 2-RBI double that barely missed the second baseman’s glove. Rain forced the contest to continue Sunday morning, which came in handy for pitcher Dawn Bodrug; she threw all seven innings over two days and struck out 16 batters.
Bodrug did not allow a single base runner during the five innings played on Sunday. She struck out 11 of Binghamton’s (14-18, 1-5 AE) final 15 batters. Her lone mistakes came in the second inning, when she walked the leadoff hitter and surrendered an RBI triple to shortstop Makayla Alvarez for the Bearcats’ only hit of the game.
Binghamton pitcher Allison L’Amoreaux held Stony Brook scoreless between the third and sixth innings, but the Seawolves’ offense exploded in the seventh. Catcher Corinne Badger’s single started a string of four consecutive RBI singles that helped the Seawolves record their highest scoring output in a conference matchup this year
In game two, Badger’s two-run home run in the fifth inning was the difference maker. The high shot to center field easily cleared the fence and drove in right fielder Alyssa Costello — who had reached base with an RBI double that scored Orosco — to give Stony Brook a 4-1 lead.
It was Badger’s 14th home run of the year, tying her for sixth-most in a season in Stony Brook history, with 17 games remaining.
Pitcher Shelbi Denman was efficient in five innings. She did not give up a hit until the fourth inning, where she surrendered three singles but escaped with only one run allowed.
Bodrug relieved Denman in the sixth and promptly allowed an RBI double. She recovered with two strikeouts in the seventh inning to close out the game.
Shortstop Kyra McFarland finished the weekend 4-for-6, providing reassurance that her midseason slump was not cause for long-term concern.
Stony Brook has now won eight of its last 10 games against Binghamton and will leave the America East with a 24-15 record against them, barring a schedule change.
