May 26, 2007

FARMINGDALE, N.Y. -- Binghamton scored early and often as the top-seeded Bearcats advance to title game with a 13-4 win over No. 4 Maine. The Bearcats will have their work cut out for them, however, as they must defeat Albany twice to claim the title. The Great Danes are just a win away from the crown.

The Bearcats got things started plating a pair of runs in the top of first as Brendon Hitchcock cracked a solo home run to right field, while Matt Simek scored on an RBI double by Kyle Klee.

Maine answered with a run in the home-half of the first scoirng as Billy Cather doubled and scored on an RBI single by Curt Smith that made it 2-1.

Binghamton plated four runs on five hits in the top of second. The big hit was a two-run double by Simek that extended the lead to 6-1.

The Black Bears answered with a pair in the third on a two-run single by Kevin McAvoy to cut it to 6-3.

The Bearcats broke it open with four runs in the fourth and plated three more in the seventh to cruise to the 13-4 victory.

Hitchcock was 3-for-6 with a home run, pair of runs scored and four RBI. Simek was 2-for-6 with a pair of RBI and runs scored, while Pat Haughie had two hits and scored twice.

Cather went 2-for-5 with an RBI double, while Curt Smith was 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored.

Binghamton junior pitcher Scott Diamond went the distance, striking out nine and walking one. Diamond (5-3) scattered 11 hits and four runs, and kept the Black Bears off the board for the final five innings.

Maine's Alejandro Balsinde went two innings and allowed six runs, five of which were earned, on seven hits. He struck out one batter. He falls to 3-5 on the season.

The title game will be a rematch of last night's tournament action. In that game, Albany scored five runs with two-out in the ninth to slip past the Bearcats.