For Immediate Release: April 6, 2007
Contact: John Hartrick (hartrick@binghamton.edu)
Phone: 607-777-6800

Binghamton baseball defeats Albany 10-6 in America East opener
Bearcats plate four runs in ninth inning to pull out the win

Box Score

ALBANY, N.Y. - Senior shortstop Justin Smucker (Bird-in-Hand, Pa.) continued his torrid hitting with three hits and two RBI and freshman left fielder Joe Charron (Schaghticoke, N.Y.) delivered a crucial two-run single in the ninth inning, propelling Binghamton (7-8) past Albany (10-12) 10-6 in the America East opener for both teams Friday afternoon from Varsity Field.

With the score knotted at 6-6 in the ninth, the Bearcats put together three hits - highlighted by a two-run single from Charron, the two-time reigning America East Rookie of the Week. Binghamton also benefitted from two walks and a passed ball by the Great Danes.

Junior pitcher Zach Groh (Reading, Pa.) scattered six hits and three runs in 6.0 innings of work. Groh struck out nine batters and left with a left with a 6-3 lead. Junior Khalid Afify (Binghamton, N.Y.) worked the final 1.1 innings to notch his second win of the season. Afify allowed just one hit.

Smucker went 3-for-6 with a two-run double in the seventh inning. He is hitting .500 with 10 RBI in his last five games (12-for-24). Junior third baseman Ryan James (Wading River, N.Y.) went 3-for-4 with two doubles and an RBI and senior first baseman Brendon Hitchcock (Laceyville, Pa.) collected a pair of hits to raise his conference-best batting average to .446.

The Bearcats could have plated even more if not for the 16 runners left stranded. Each team registered 11 hits in the game.

The two teams will continue their four-game series with a doubleheader Saturday beginning at noon.