Binghamton University Athletics

A native of Lacona, N.Y., Margaret Yerdon played softball at Binghamton from 1997-2002. An elite four-year pitcher and three-year captain, Yerdon holds the rare distinction of competing at all three NCAA divisional levels as a Bearcat. She finished her career as a three-time all-conference selection, two-time conference pitcher of the year and the program's all-time ERA leader.
 
Yerdon's freshman year featured a 9-3 record in the circle with 76 strikeouts. She posted a school-record 0.90 ERA and earned recognition on the New York State All-Championship team after helping the team capture its second straight state title. Opponents hit just .194 against her. Binghamton was the NCAA Division III Northeast Region runnerup and finished with a No. 11 national ranking.
 
In 1999, Yerdon was the ace of BU's now-Division II team and she won 15 games and amassed 142 strikeouts in 151 innings. She held down a 1.34 ERA and was named the NECC Pitcher of the Year and second team all-region. Along the way she pitched the first of two career no-hitters in a conference win over New Hampshire College.
 
As a junior, Yerdon compiled 11 wins with a 1.57 ERA as the Bearcats went 21-12 and captured an ECAC title. She struck out 91 and repeated as both NECC Pitcher of the Year and a first team all-conference selection.
 
After taking a year off because of injury, Yerdon returned for BU's Division I debut in 2002. She won eight games and totaled 122 strikeouts. She pitched 15 complete games and notched three shutouts with a 2.04 ERA. In addition, Yerdon was an every-day hitter in the lineup and ranked second on the team in batting. She was voted America East first team all-conference.
 
She graduated as the program's career leader in strikeouts (431) and ERA (1.40) and still ranks among the top-3 in nearly every pitching category, including innings, wins, shutouts and complete games.   
 
Yerdon was honored with the department's Citizenship Award in 2002 for her sportsmanship, leadership and community service. She earned a bachelor's degree in English and sociology in 2001 and her master's degree in social sciences from Binghamton in 2002.