VESTAL, N.Y. – Visiting Albany (25-13, 10-4 AE) scored an unearned run in the top of the 10th inning and went on to defeat Binghamton (13-23, 6-9 AE) 8-7 in an America East softball game on Wednesday afternoon at the Bearcats Sports Complex.  

The Bearcats rallied from deficits of 5-0 and 7-5 to force extra innings. In the top of the 10th inning, however, Denise Conrad led off for the Great Danes with a double. Alexis Phillips came in as a pinch runner and two batters later, scored to put Albany ahead 8-7.

Earlier the game, the Bearcats came up with three runs in the bottom of the third inning and two more runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to deadlock the game at 5-5. Sophomore pitcher Rozlyn Price drilled a two-run home run in the bottom of the third inning and sophomore catcher Sara Herskowitz doubled home the tying runs in the fifth inning.

Albany answered right back in the top of the sixth inning when Chelsea Henige doubled home a pair of runs. In the bottom of the seventh inning, however, senior third baseman Kate Richard and Alvarez led off with back-to-back home runs, tying the score at 7-7.

The Bearcats, who outhit Albany 13-10, left the winning run on third base in the bottom of the eighth inning.

Maranda Jimenez retired the last eight batters she faced, raising her record to 8-3.

Sophomore Rayn Gibson pitched the final four innings for the Bearcats and did not allow an unearned run. Her record, however, fell to 5-12.

Senior outfielder Jessica Rutherford went 3-for-5 while Alvarez finished 2-for-5, scored three times and drove in a pair of runs.

Binghamton hosts Hartford on Friday at 2 p.m. in an America East doubleheader.

NOTES: Rutherford is now batting a team-best .392 while Richard leads the Bearcats with seven home runs and 28 RBI … this marks just the second time in the six-year history of the Bearcats Sports Complex that a game has gone 10 innings. Binghamton defeated Maine 5-4 in 10 innings back on May 1, 2015.