For Immediate Release: June 25, 2010
Contact: Matt Muzza (sports@binghamton.edu)
Phone: 607-777-2956

Binghamton softball 2010 season recap
BU has best-ever season at Division I level

First-year head coach Michelle Burrell led the Binghamton softball program to its best season at the Division I level in 2010. The Bearcats posted a 24-19 record, setting a new DI record for most wins while also earning their first winning season. Five Bearcats earned all-conference honors, two were named to the conference all-academic team and BU picked up nine weekly accolades from the America East.

"Overall, I was very pleased with how the team progressed throughout the year," Burrell said. "I thought we improved with every game we played and their hard work in the fall and pre-season definitely showed on the field. We were disappointed about not making the conference tournament but were very close and I believe our players will be more confident and prepared for our conference series next season. We have a great group of returning players along with a talented incoming class and I’m really looking forward to seeing what they can do next year."

Highlights:

-Binghamton finished in fifth place in the America East, only a game and a half out of their first playoff berth.

-Team posted eight-straight wins March 7-25.

-BU went 4-0 to win Delaware State Invite Title.

-Team set DI level records for most runs (212), hits (324), batting average (.278), doubles (66), home runs (43) and runs batted in (183).

-Junior catcher Deannie Plemon batted .376 with 14 homers and 44 RBI. Also posts .767 slugging percentage and a .465 on-base percentage. Plemon named to the NFCA Mid-Atlantic All-Region Second Team, ECAC All-Star Second Team, America East First Team and the conference all-academic team.

-Freshman outfielder/designated player Jessica Phillips batted .345 with 15 home runs and 33 RBI. Also posts .770 slugging percentage and .435 on-base percentage. Phillips was named the America East Rookie of the Year, Second Team and All-Rookie Team. In addition, Phillips was named to the NFCA Mid-Atlantic All-Region First Team.

-Sophomore Kristen Emerling and freshman Rhoda Marsteller anchored the team's pitching staff which improved its ERA from 5.05 in 2009 to 2.75 in 2010. Emerling was 14-5 with a 1.95 ERA and Marsteller was 10-9 with a 3.16 ERA and 116 strikeouts.

-Sophomore outfielder Meghan Tucker had another superb year, earning all conference honors for the second straight season by being named to the America East All-Conference Second Team in 2010.

Bearcats in the National Rankings:

Jessica Phillips:
T-10th in home runs per game
26th in slugging percentage
T-48th in home runs

Deannie Plemon:
T-16th in home runs per game
T-20th in RBI per game
27th in slugging percentage

Stephanie Valencia:
T-9th in Triples per game
T-18th in triples

Kate Price:
T-29th in saves

Team rankings:
T-17th in doubles per game
T-31st in home runs per game
T-34th in slugging percentage

New Binghamton DI single season records from 2010:

Batting average - Plemon, .376
Runs - Phillips, 38
Hits - Plemon, 50
Home runs - Phillips, 15
Runs batted in - Plemon, 44
On-base percentage - Plemon, .465
Slugging percentage - Phillips, .770
Total bases - Phillips, 107
Extra-base hits - Phillips, 28
Walks - Phillips, 20
Wins - Emerling, 14