For Immediate Release: April 13, 2006
Contact: John Hartrick (hartrick@binghamton.edu)
Phone: 607-777-6800

Binghamton baseball uses eight-run third inning to roll over UMBC 13-5
Bearcats win for fourth time in last five games, improve to 3-1 in league play

Box Score

VESTAL, N.Y. - Binghamton (14-10-1, 3-1 AE) exploded for eight runs in the third inning en route to an 13-5 win over visiting UMBC (10-19, 0-4 AE) Thursday afternoon at Varsity Field. The win was BU's fourth in the last five games and kept the Bearcats unbeaten all-time against the Retrievers (7-0).

Trailing 2-1, Binghamton batted around in the third inning, scoring eight runs on five hits and three walks. Senior center fielder Aaron Davis (San Francisco, Calif.) belted a two-run double to right field and junior first baseman Brendon Hitchcock (Laceyville, Pa.) added a two-out, two-run single to highlight the onslaught.

Hitchcock, mired in a 3-for-19 slump entering the game, went 4-for-4 with four RBI in his first game hitting in the leadoff position. He added RBI singles in the seventh and eighth innings and has 23 RBI on the season.

Davis wound up 2-for-4 with two doubles and two RBI. Also driving in a pair of runs were junior designated hitter Jeff Wertepny (Des Plaines, Ill.) and freshman shortstop Kyle Klee (Rochester, N.Y.). Klee ripped an RBI double in the fourth inning - one of seven extra-base hits for the Bearcats. Junior right fielder Jeff Monaco (Binghamton, N.Y.) capped the scoring with a solo home run in the eighth inning - his second of the season. Junior second baseman Matt Simek (Vestal, N.Y.) went 2-for-4 with an RBI.

Sophomore pitcher Scott Diamond (Guelph, Ontario) picked up his team-best fourth win of the season (4-3). Diamond scattered seven hits and allowed four earned runs in the complete-game win.

The teams will continue the series with a doubleheader Friday beginning at noon.

NOTE
The game was delayed 46 minutes in the bottom of the fourth inning due to lightening in the area.