UALBANY WINS SECOND STRAIGHT AMERICA EAST CONFERENCE SOFTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP

Orono, Maine -- Casey Halloran scattered six hits in seven strong innings on the mound to lead UAlbany to its second consecutive America East Conference championship with a 5-2 victory over Boston University on Saturday, May 13. The four-team, double-elimination tournament was held at the University of Maine’s Kessock Field.

UAlbany (36-11-1) also earned a trip to the NCAA Tournament for the second straight season with the conference’s automatic berth. The Great Danes, who set a school record for single-season wins, will find out their opponent on Sunday at 3:30 p.m. ET. The 64-team field will be announced on ESPNews with regional play scheduled for May 19-21.

Boston U. (29-29) set up the championship game by winning two games in the loser’s bracket earlier in the day. The Terriers, who were attempting to become the first No. 4 seed to win the conference title, eliminated UMBC, 2-1, as Christy Leath delivered a bases-loaded single in the seventh inning. In a 3-1 win over UAlbany, Leath had a two-run double in the third, while teammate Liz Alley smacked her 10th home run of the season.

In the championship, the second-seeded Great Danes broke up a 1-1 deadlock with a three-run fourth. Freshman Meagan Butsch put her team ahead with a sacrifice fly, but then a throwing error by the center fielder scored another run. Julie Gannon then belted her second homer of the spring, a solo shot, for a 4-1 lead.

Shortstop Maegan Larsen led off the fifth inning by drilling a 1-1 pitch over the left-field fence, her team-leading 10th home run. Larsen, who chased starting pitcher Cassidi Hardy with that blast, and second baseman Katrina Dunning both had two hits in the contest.

Meanwhile, Halloran cruised along with a seven-strikeout, no-walk performance to improve to 27-8 on the season. She was named the championship’s most outstanding player by posting a 3-1 record with 31 strikeouts in tournament play. UAlbany’s Ali Meacham, Amber Maisonet and Larsen joined her on the all-tournament squad.

“I thought going in that it would go two (games) today,” said UAlbany coach Chris Cannata, whose team faced Boston U. in the championship game for the third time in the last four years. “I was hoping that Casey (Halloran) would be fresh. You really have to ride your ace at the end and she certainly wants the ball every day.”

Leath, a freshman catcher, accounted for both of Boston University’s runs, as she went 3-for-3 at the plate in the final. She hit her fourth home run of the year in the first inning and added a RBI double in the sixth.

“We were nervous after the first game today,” offered Halloran, who became the school’s all-time strikeouts leader with 408 to break the previous mark established by Kelly Poynton from 1997-99. “But we realized it (the championship) was ours to win. It’s not like I threw a no-hitter out there. I gave up a bunch of hits and my team just made plays behind me.”

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America East Conference Tournament - Championship

UAlbany (36-11-1) 100 310 0 - 5 8 0

Boston U. (29-29) 100 001 0 - 2 6 1

Casey Halloran and Ali Meacham.

Cassidi Hardy, Brittany Detweiler (5) and Christy Leath.

America East Conference Tournament - Third Round

Boston U. (29-28) 002 100 0 - 3 6 0

UAlbany (35-11-1) 000 100 0 - 1 3 0

Cassidi Hardy and Christy Leath.

Casey Halloran and Ali Meacham.



America East Conference Softball Championship Bracket
Thursday, May 11
Game 1: #2 Albany 8, #3 UMBC 0
Game 2: #4 Boston University 11, #1 Maine 1
Friday, May 12
Game 3: Albany 2, Boston U. 1
Game 4: UMBC 5, Maine 1 (Maine eliminated)
Game 5: Boston U. 2, UMBC 1 (UMBC eliminated)
Saturday, May 13
Game 6: Boston U. 3, Albany 1
Game 7: Albany 5, Boston U. 2 (Boston U. eliminated)

UALBANY MEN AND WOMEN ARE AMERICA EAST TRACK & FIELD CHAMPIONS

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information
Release: 05/07/2006

Durham, N.H. - Joe Greene won two individual titles and was named the Most Outstanding Track Performer and Rookie of the Year as the UAlbany men were named the America East Conference champions on Sunday, May 7 at New Hampshire's Reggie F. Atkins Track Facility. The Great Danes earned their second consecutive title and third in the last four years with 199.5 points. The UAlbany women were also crowned champions as they took home their first-ever America East team title, finishing with a best-ever 180 points.

Greene became the first male to post winning performances in both the 400-meter dash and 400-meter hurdles at an America East championship. He is also the first Great Dane to win multiple individual titles at an outdoor championship since Teresa Covert took the 100m dash and hurdles in 2004. Greene was clocked in 47.53 seconds in the 400m dash, while covering the hurdles in 51.59 seconds, only nine-hundredths of a second off the school record.

Junior Burnett won the 200m dash and turned in a second-place showing in the 100m dash, setting UAlbany standards in both events. He captured the 200m title in 21.24 seconds and was followed by freshman Pat Weider, who crossed the line in 21.37. Burnett shaved 46-hundredths of a second off the previous school record in the event. He also covered the 100m dash in 10.64 seconds, with Weider following in third and clocking in at 10.81.

Greene and Burnett also teamed up to lead the men's 4x400m relay to a win in 3:10.86. Greene ran a 46.1 anchor split, while Burnett had a 46.6 split in the second slot. Jerry Wilson and Stephen Evans also contributed to the relay win.

Ray Gilman rounded out UAlbany individual men's winners with a first-place triple jump of 48-feet, 7.25-inches. That leap, which was more than one foot better than his nearest competitor, was Gilman's best of the year.

Freddie Wills was named the Field Performer of the Year, posting top-three finishes in three jumping events. Wills followed up his win in the long jump and third-place finish in the high jump on Saturday with a second-place showing in the triple jump in the meet's final day. Wills, who leaped 47-1.75 in that event, also took home the Coaches Award, given to the athlete who scores the most points for his team.

The Great Danes edged New Hampshire, which followed closely behind with 195.33 points in the two-day competition. Binghamton (129.5), UMBC (101.33) and Boston U. (95) rounded out the top five.

The UAlbany women were led by Jessica Ortman, who won the 1500-meter run in 4:36.78. Her twin sister Jenna finished second in the event, crossing the line in 4:38.80. Jessica and Jenna also posted third- and fourth-place finishes, respectively, in the 800m run.

Jessica Ortman, who set a school record in the 3,000m steeplechase on Saturday, also ran a 2:13.1 anchor split to lead the women's 4x800m relay to a victory. Danielle Trimpop and Adanna Andrews ran the first two legs, while Jenna Ortman was third with a 2:14.6 split.

Freshmen Kamilah McShine and Ritshell Verdier also turned in top performances for the Great Danes. McShine captured the 100m hurdles in 14.13 seconds, plus finished third in the heptathlon with 4,128 points. Verdier shattered the school record in winning the discus with a throw of 157-8. She posted a win margin of better than 30 feet and eclipsed her own UAlbany standard by nearly 19 feet.

The women, who finished fifth last year and were in third place after the first day of competition, finished 13.5 points ahead of Boston U. New Hampshire (121.5), UMBC (106) and Binghamton (95) followed to complete the top five.

"It was an exciting and tremendous meet," said UAlbany head coach Roberto Vives, whose staff received the women's coaching staff of the year award. "To win three championships in one year is unbelievable. I'm proud of these athletes. Everyone stepped up, and it was a total team effort."

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2006 America East Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championship
(The Reggie F. Atkins Track Facility, Durham, N.H.)
Final Results -- TEAM

MEN
1. UAlbany 199.50, 2. New Hampshire 195.33, 3. Binghamton 129.50, 4. UMBC 101.33, 5. Boston U. 95, 6. Maine 66.33, 7. Vermont 35, 8. Stony Brook 18, 9. Hartford 13.
WOMEN
1. UAlbany 180, 2. Boston U. 166.50, 3. New Hampshire 121.50, 4. UMBC 106, 5. Binghamton 95, 6. Vermont 88, 7. Maine 78.50, 8. Stony Brook 17, 9. Hartford 5.50