The University of Maine softball team fought hard and lost 3-2 to a heavily favored No. 2 Binghamton University squad on Thursday, in the second round of the America East conference tournament in Orono.
Coming off a stunning come-from-behind victory versus No. 3 Bryant on Wednesday, the No. 6 Black Bears (5-40) opened the scoring against Binghamton (32-16) in the fourth inning, on a two-run home run from fifth-year Cat Fallon to left field.
It was Fallon’s second homer in two days. She previously slugged a game-tying, three-run homer versus the Bulldogs Wednesday — helping secure UMaine’s second conference victory of the entire season.
Binghamton responded by scoring three runs in the bottom of the fourth, as freshman Emma Lawson (1-for-2) hit a two-run homer off UMaine starting pitcher Isabelle True (3.2 innings, three earned runs, one strikeout) with one out, and sophomore Bella Farina tacked on an RBI double.
In the sixth and seventh innings, UMaine sophomore pitcher Alysen Reith (2.1 innings, one strikeout) held Binghamton scoreless, but Binghamton sophomore Brianna Roberts (seven innings, five strikeouts) finished the complete game to secure the Bearcat victory.
UMaine plays for its tournament life in a rematch with Bryant later Thursday afternoon.