For Immediate Release: April 27, 2007
Contact: John Hartrick (hartrick@binghamton.edu)
Phone: 607-777-6800

Groh strikes out record 14, Bearcats roll to 11-4 baseball win over Hartford
Simek drives in three as Binghamton (10-2) maintains hold on first place

Box Score

VESTAL, N.Y. - Junior Zach Groh (Reading, Pa.) set the program's Division I record with 14 strikeouts and his teammates broke out of an offensive slump with 11 runs in an 11-4 Binghamton (16-12, 10-2 America East) win over visiting Hartford (9-24, 6-6 AE) Friday afternoon from Varsity Field.

Groh (4-1), the reigning America East Pitcher of the Year, gave up two runs on two hits in the first inning before blowing through the Hawks batting order in rapid succession. He struck out three in the first inning, one in the second, three in the third, two in the fourth, three in the fifth, one in the sixth and one in the seventh. At one point, he put down five in a row and eight of 12.

Senior second baseman Matt Simek (Vestal, N.Y.) led the offense with a three-RBI performance. Trailing 2-0 in the bottom of the first, Simek delivered a two-run single - part of a four-run outburst that put the Bearcats up for good. Simek added an RBI double in the fifth inning - padding his team-high count to 24 RBI in 25 games.

Binghamton added a run in the third, three in the fourth and two in the fifth to stretch its lead. After the Hawks got one back in the seventh, each team plated a run in the eighth to complete the scoring.

Senior first baseman Brendon Hitchcock (Laceyville, Pa.) went 2-for-2 with two RBI and two runs scored. Hitchcock, who leads the America East with a .396 average, produced an RBI single in the fourth inning and a two-out, RBI double in the fifth.

Sophomore left fielder Ken Jacobi (Milford, Conn.) drove in two runs and junior center fielder Ryan James (Wading River, N.Y.) went 2-for-4 with two runs scored.

The teams will continue their scheduled four-game series with a doubleheader (two seven-inning games) Saturday beginning at noon.

NOTES
Groh's 14 strikeouts broke the record of 10 he shared with David Eagan (2002)... In his last four starts - all wins - he has amassed 38 strikeouts in 28 innings... the 11-run outburst marked the seventh time this season that BU has scored in double figures... entering the game, BU had mustered just two runs in their last 18 innings.