April 27, 2012

LIVE: STATS

Vestal, N.Y. - The Stony Brook softball team will look to clinch a spot in the America East playoffs this weekend when it travels to Binghamton for a three-game series starting Saturday at noon. The Seawolves currently occupy the top spot in the standings at 10-1-1 and own a 5-1 record in conference road games thus far.

Last Time Out
The Seawolves dropped a tightly-contested affair at Sacred Heart on Wednesday, falling by a score of 8-7. Stony Brook opened up a 3-0 lead in the second when sophomore Nicole Hagerty (Sicklerville, N.J.) cleared the bases with a double. The Pioneers scored the next eight runs in the game to open up a five-run advantage heading to the sixth, but Stony Brook rallied with four runs to cut the deficit to 8-7. Freshman Shayla Giosia (Runnemede, N.J.) had three hits and knocked in her team-leading 38th run of the season.

Binghamton
Heading into the weekend, the Bearcats occupy the fourth and final playoff spot in the America East at 6-9. Binghamton is 2.5 games up on Maine, however, the Black Bears have six games remaining (Binghamton has three) and Maine already swept Binghamton this season. Jessica Phillips is the offensive catalyst for the Bearcats, hitting .300 with 10 home runs and 21 RBI. In the circle, Binghamton has relied on four pitchers, Demi Laney, Kristen Emerling, Kate Price and Rhoda Marsteller, all of whom have thrown at least 43 innings. Laney leads the team with six wins, 80 strikeouts and a 5.21 ERA.

Home Field Advantage
The Bearcats have been a markedly better team at home this season, posting an 8-0 record in Vestal, N.Y., compared to a 1-21 mark on the road and a 6-4 record at neutral sites. In eight home games, Binghamton has outscored its opposition 59-30.

America East Assault
In 12 America East games so far, senior Lauren Maloney (Las Vegas, Nev.) is hitting .486 (17-for-35) with four homers and 11 RBI. Maloney has also scored a team-high 11 runs in conference games and is slugging a robust .886.