VESTAL, N.Y. - Sophomore center fielder Shane Marshall ripped a bases-loaded, walk-off RBI single in the bottom of the ninth inning to lift Binghamton baseball (24-22) to a 2-1 win over sixth-seeded Hartford (20-33) in BU's' opening game of the America East tournament Wednesday afternoon at the Bearcats Baseball Complex. With the win, BU advances to face No. 2 Albany at 2:30 p.m. Thursday in a winners' bracket game.

Junior right-hander Ben Anderson went the distance and allowed just one run on six hits. Anderson (W, 9-4), the America East Pitcher of the Year, struck out four, bringing his season total to 108 - tied for third-most in the 30-year history of the America East. Witih the win, Anderson also set the school record for wins in a season.

Marshall went 4-of-5 and was the hero after BU loaded the bases in the ninth. With one out, sophomore shortstop Jake Evans hit an infield single in the hole at short. Junior catcher TJ Wegmann then pushed down a perfect bunt single and both runners moved up on the ensuing throwing error by the Hartford third baseman. After junior left fielder Daniel Franchi was intentionally walked, Marshall went in the hole 0-2 before drilling a sharp grounder to the left side. The third baseman got a glove on it but by then Evans was crossing home with the winning run.

Franchi set up the ninth-inning heroics with a clutch two-out RBI single in the bottom of the seventh that pulled BU even 1-1. In that inning, junior third baseman Justin Drpich hit a 1-out double just inside the first base bag. He went to third on an Evans groundout and then scored with Franchi pulled the first pitch he saw into the hole at short and easily beat the throw to first. 

Hartford had taken a 1-0 lead in the top of the sixth, using a leadoff walk, sacrifice and RBI single to finally break through against Anderson. 

Evans went 2-for-4 and fellow infielder Drpich made several outstanding plays in the field. In the first inning, Drpich sprawled out at the fence to catch a foul ball. In the fourth, he made a great stop at third and recorded the out. Then in the eighth, he ranged into the hole at short to field, spin and get the runner. Marshall also made an outstanding play in the fifth to save a run. Marshall tracked down a deep ball and made a catch over his shoulder at the track in center. 

Freshman catcher Connor Aoki also provided a spark with a key stolen base stifle in the seventh. Hartford had a runner on base with one out and was looking to extend its lead with a swipe and base hit, but Aoki fired a strike down to second to erase the runner. Anderson then ended the inning with a strikeout.

Binghamton will send senior all-conference right-hander Nick Gallagher (3-5, 4.44 ERA) to the hill to try and slow down an Albany team that has won nine straight.