For Immediate Release: March 3, 2006
Contact: David O'Brian (dobrian@binghamton.edu)
Phone: 607-777-6478

Binghamton softball splits first two games at ECU/Hampton Inn Pirate Clash

Game 1 Box
Game 2 Box

GREENVILLE, N.C. -- Senior Katie Hansen (Westtown, N.Y.) tossed a complete-game victory, leading the Binghamton softball team (1-1) to a split in the opening day of action at the East Carolina Hampton/Inn Pirate Clash on Friday. The Bearcats lost their opener 4-1 to St. Francis (1-8) before defeating Liberty (5-1) by the same score later in the day.

Against Liberty, Hansen allowed just an unearned run and scattered only four hits in seven innings of work. She also struck out seven batters. Offensively, the Bearcats were led by junior infielder Emilie Palmcrantz (Johnson City, N.Y.), who went 2-for-3 with a pair of RBI.

Earlier in the day against St. Joseph's, senior shortstop Rose Barre (Watertown, N.Y.) tripled in the top of the fourth inning and later scored the Bearcats' lone run on a RBI single by senior second baseman Nicole Vitello (Olean, N.Y.), giving the Bearcats a 1-0 lead.

In the bottom of the fourth inning, however, the Red Flash blew the game open by scoring all four of its runs. The decisive blow was a three-run home run by senior shortstop Kate Lancaster, which broke up a 1-1 tie.

Barre went 3-for-7 in the two games while senior right fielder Lauren Verussio (New Rochelle, N.Y.) went 3-for-6.

Binghamton faces Longwood at 9 a.m. and East Carolina at 11 a.m. on Saturday as play continues in the East Carolina/Hampton Inn Pirate Clash.