2014 University of Albany Softball Defeats Stony Brook, Wins Fifth America East Title

Courtesy: UA Sports STONY BROOK, N.Y. – For the first time since the 2011 season, when the members of this year’s senior class were freshmen, the University at Albany softball team have been crowned America East Champions, the fifth title in school history. The Danes (33-11) defeated Stony Brook (34-18) 8-1 for the second straight time when facing elimination to clinch the title. By virtue of winning the America East Tournament, UAlbany has earned an automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament regionals. Brittany MacFawn (19-6), who pitched all 10 innings of the morning game, once again took the mound for UAlbany in the afternoon. MacFawn pitched a complete game, allowing one run on five hits with three strikeouts and no walks. Unlike the morning game, which went scoreless through nine innings, UAlbany broke onto the scoreboard early, scoring two runs in the top of the first inning. Vicky McFarland led off the game with a double to center field, and advanced to second on Kelly Costello’s sacrifice bunt in the next at-bat. Maggie Cocks hit a single to right that allowed McFarland to score. Charlise Castro then worked a walk, putting runners on first and second. Elizabeth Snow, the hero in the first game, hit a single to right, loading up the bases. Marlin Solano then hit a sacrifice fly to left, which allowed Cocks to tag up on third and score safely, giving UAlbany a 2-0 lead. The score held until the top of the sixth inning, when UAlbany added four more runs. Cocks led off with a single to left field. Castro hit a double down the left field line, pushing Cocks to third. Snow worked a walk, loading the bases once again. Solano hit a single down the right field line, scoring Cocks and Castro and advancing Snow to third. A pair of pinch runners entered the game, Kayla Bailey for Solano at first and Emily Ostrom for Snow at third. Lauren Alcorn, the next batter, hit a single to right, which allowed Ostrom to score from third and pushed Bailey to third. Jess Tate struck out for UAlbany’s first out of the inning, and Alexa Toole followed by opposing up to second. During McFarland’s at-bat, UAlbany attempted a double-steal. Alcorn was caught in a rundown, but delayed getting tagged long enough for Bailey to score safely from third. UAlbany now led 6-0. McFarland led off the top of the seventh flying out to center. Costello then worked a walk, before getting forced out at second when Cocks hit into a fielder’s choice. With two outs, Castro hit a two-run home run to center, giving UAlbany an 8-0 lead. Stony Brook scored their first and only run in the bottom of the seventh inning, a leadoff home run by the left fielder. The game ended when the Seawolves’ second baseman poetically gounded out to MacFawn on the mound. Cocks hit 2-3 with three runs scored and one RBI. Castro hit 3-3 with a home run, two runs scored and two RBIs. And Solano hit 1-2 with three RBIs. UAlbany will return home and await their next opponent, who will be announced tonight at 10:00 p.m. on ESPNU. The NCAA Regional round will be held from May 16-18 in 16, four-team double elimination tournaments. Sixteen teams will advance to the Super Regional round.