For Immediate Release: May 10, 2008
Contact: John Hartrick (hartrick@binghamton.edu)
Phone: 607-777-6800

BU baseball sweeps Hartford to vault into first place, 8-2, 3-0
Taylor drives in six; Bearcats have won 14 of last 16, 17 of 21

Game 1 Box
Game 2 Box

WEST HARTFORD, Conn.– Freshman center fielder Corey Taylor (Vestal, N.Y.) drove in six runs and visiting Binghamton (24-23, 12-6 AE) continued its torrid pace with a doubleheader sweep of Hartford (16-28, 8-10 AE) Saturday afternoon from the Hartford Baseball Field. The Bearcats won 8-2 and 3-0 and have now won 14 of their last 16 games to grab a share of first place in the America East standings alonside Stony Brook.

In the opener, BU trailed 1-0 before scoring eight unanswered runs. The Bearcats plated four in the sixth, three in the seventh and another in the eighth. That was more than enough offense for senior Zach Groh (Reading, Pa.), who allowwed just one run in 7.2 innings of work. Groh (4-3) scattered nine hits, struck out five and walked two, lowering his season ERA to 3.80.

Taylor drove in three runs, two on a double in the sixth inning. In that four-run frame, sophomore left fielder Joe Charron (Schaghticoke, N.Y.) followed Taylor's hit with a two-run double of his own. One inning later, BU strung together four hits, including a run-scoring single by freshman right fielder Peter Bregartner (East Islip, N.Y.) and an RBI double by senior second baseman Ryan James (Wading River, N.Y.). Taylor added an RBI sacrifice fly in the eighth for Binghamton's eighth and final run.

Freshman catcher Jeff Skelhorne-Gross (Mississauga, Ontario) went 3-for-4, Charron ripped his 14th and 15 doubles of the spring, and junior designated hitter Ken Jacobi (Milford, Conn.) had two hits and two runs scored.

In the nightcap, BU was stifled on two hits but Taylor made his count in the seventh inning. With two out and two on, he ripped a three-run home run over the right field fence to snap a scoreless tie and give the Bearcats their winning margin. Binghamton had been no-hit for five innings, and couldn't muster anything until taking advantage of a walk and hit batter in the seventh. Taylor followed with his third homer of the season.

That made a winner out of Junior lefty Jeff Dennis (North Syracuse, N.Y.), who tossed six shutout innings. Dennis (4-4) scattered six hits, struck out seven and walked two before giving way to junior reliever Greg Lane (Binghamton, N.Y.), who pitched a scoreless seventh for his 10th save of the season.

The teams conclude their series with another twinbill on Sunday. They will play a seven-inning game beginning at noon, followed by a nine-inning affair.

NOTES
Binghamton, winners of 17 of its last 21 games, and Stony Brook sit atop the America East standings with identical 12-6 records - three games ahead of third-place Vermont (9-9) and four up on fourth-place Hartford (8-10). The top four teams advance to the America East tournament, May 22-24. The Bearcats host Maine in a season-ending four-game series beginning next Thursday.