University of Albany Baseball Splits America East Conference Twinbill With Binghamton - UAlbany Sports 2009

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Albany, N.Y. – Josh Willimott threw seven innings of one-hit ball, leading UAlbany to a 2-1 win over Binghamton in America East Conference baseball action on Saturday afternoon at Varsity Field. The Great Danes split the conference twinbill, dropping a 5-4 decision to the Bearcats in the second game.

UAlbany got on the board first in game one, scoring a single run in the bottom of the fourth. Brendan Rowland hit a triple to right center and was driven in on an RBI single by Mike Tirri to give the Great Danes the 1-0 lead. Binghamton tied the game at 1-1 the top of the sixth when Henry Dunn, who knocked out a single to get on base, was driven home on a fly out to left field by Kyle Klee.

UAlbany’s Sean Gregory came into the game in relief in the eighth inning, and tossed the final three shutout frames for the Great Danes. Gregory scattered just three hits, keeping the Great Danes in control. UAlbany loaded the bases in the bottom of the 10th, as Kyle Crean was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning. Crean advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Dave West and later scored the winning run on an error by the Binghamton second baseman.

Willimott fanned seven without issuing a walk in the game. Gregory earned the win with his performance, while Alex Adami took the loss for Binghamton, allowing the winning run. Murphy Smith tossed five innings for the Bearcats, fanning three.

In game two, Binghamton jumped out to an early lead, scoring one run in the first inning. Dunn drew a lead-off walk, but was out at second on a fielder’s choice by Dave Ciocchi. Klee followed with a single down the left field line to advance Ciocchi, who scored on a sacrifice fly to center field by Corey Taylor.

UAlbany tied it up at 1-1 in the third, as Tirri, last week’s America East rookie of the week, hit a single to lead off the frame. Tirri advanced to second on a ground out by Ralph Keppler and was driven home on an RBI single by Gary Pitcheralle. Binghamton responded in the top of the fourth with a single run. Jim Calderone reached on a UAlbany fielding error and advance to second on a passed ball. He later scored on another Great Dane error, giving the Bearcats a 2-1 advantage.

UAlbany regained the lead with two runs in the fifth, led off by a Tirri double down the left field line. He advanced to third on a ground out by Pete Eichner and scored on an RBI single by Keppler. Crean later knocked a single down the right field line to score Keppler, but was caught stealing to end the inning.

The Bearcats did not allow UAlbany to hold the lead for long, adding three runs in the sixth. Joe Charron singled up the middle and advanced to second on an intentional walk issued to Ken Jacobi. Jeff Abrams followed with a single to score Charron, tying the game. C.J. Lukaszewski gave Binghamton the lead with an RBI single up the middle to score Jacobi, while Dunn followed with a base hit to score Abrams.

The Great Danes attempted a rally in the bottom of the final inning, as lead off hitter Sean Donovan cracked a solo home run over the fence in right center to pull UAlbany within one. Relief pitcher Greg Lane entered the game and induced three straight fly outs by the Great Danes to earn the save and give Binghamton the win.

James Giulietti got the win for the Bearcats, throwing six innings and fanning four. Sophomore right hander Dave Kubiak took the loss for UAlbany, fanning four over six innings of work. Reliever Jeff Kaier tossed the last inning for the Great Danes, striking out one.

UAlbany (12-17, AE 5-1) and Binghamton (10-13, AE 3-1) will complete the four-game series on Sunday with a doubleheader starting at noon.

-agate-

Binghamton 000 001 000 0 - 1 10 2
UAlbany 000 100 000 1 - 2 3 1

Binghamton: Murphy Smith, Morgan Smith (6), Greg Lane (9), Alex Adami (10) and Jeff Skelhorne-Gross.

UAlbany: Josh Willimott, Sean Gregory (8) and Ryan Gugel.


Binghamton (10-13, AE 3-1) 100 103 0 - 5 5 1
UAlbany (12-17, AE 5-1) 001 020 1 - 4 7 3

Binghamton: James Giulietti, Greg Lane (7) and C.J. Lukaszewski.

UAlbany: Dave Kubiak, Jeff Kaier (7) and Ralph Keppler.