For Immediate Release: March 15, 2006
Contact: John Hartrick (hartrick@binghamton.edu)
Phone: 607-777-6800

Binghamton baseball loses to Fresno State 7-6 in 12 innings
Bearcats squander 6-3 lead at Johnny Quik Classic

Box Score

FRESNO, Calif. - Host Fresno State (16-8) rallied for three runs in the final two innings and then pushed across the winning run in the bottom of the 12th inning to beat Binghamton (2-3-1) late Wednesday night at the Pepsi/Johnny Quik Classic. A crowd of 1,924 watched the tightly-contested game at Beiden Field.

Binghamton erased a 2-0 deficit with a pair of runs in each of the third, fifth and eighth innings to stake out a 6-3 lead. But Fresno State plated two runs in the eighth and sent the game to extra innings with a single run in the ninth. In the 12th inning, the Bulldogs used a leadoff walk and back-to-back singles to end the contest, which lasted three hours and 40 minutes.

Sophomore starter Zach Groh (Reading, Pa.) went six innings, allowing three runs on four hits. Groh struck out six and now has fanned 11 in nine innings of work this spring. He left with a 4-3 lead. But BU's bullpen allowed four runs on nine hits. In the eighth, Fresno State scored twice without the benefit of a ball leaving the infield, utilizing an error, hit batter and a groundout. A two-out infield single in the ninth allowed the Bulldogs to tie the game.

Junior shortstop Justin Smucker (Bird-in-Hand, Pa.) went 3-for-5 with an RBI from the leadoff spot. Sophomore third baseman Ryan James (Wading River, N.Y.) went 2-for-4 with an RBI and junior first baseman Brendon Hitchcock (Laceyville, Pa.) collected two hits and an RBI.

Junior catcher Pat Haughie (St. James, N.Y.) drove in his team-high ninth run of the season with a fifth-inning single.

Each team collected 13 hits and stranded 10 runners.

Binghamton will continue the tournament with a game against Miami (Ohio) at 7 p.m. on Thursday.