The Binghamton softball team is eager to begin its 2022 campaign. With four in-season tournaments, a full conference schedule and several non-conference matchups, things are shaping up for a return to normalcy for the Bearcats.

Jess Bump begins her first season as the head coach but she is no stranger to the Bearcat program. She was the acting head coach at the start of the 2021 season when former head coach Michelle Johnston was on maternity leave. Bump, who starred on the Bearcats during her undergraduate career from 2011-14, has been part of the Bearcat coaching staff since 2017.

Bump takes the helm of a program that features three all-conference returnees as well as the majority of its starters back in the lineup and on the mound. The Bearcats have also added three newcomers this year and have had the luxury of gelling during a fall season for the first time since 2019.

"We are excited to get back on the field for a full season of softball," Bump said. "The girls put in a lot of work over the winter break and came back to campus healthy, in shape and prepared to get right into practice."

With a veteran group, the Bearcats have continued to develop character traits that Bump believes will serve them well over the next several months.

"This team continues to impress our coaching staff with their positivity, team-first mentality and their willingness to take their game to the next level," she said.

The strength of the Bearcats in 2021 was their defense. Binghamton's .968 fielding percentage was its best since moving up to the NCAA Division I level two decades ago. Starting this past fall, meanwhile, the Bearcats have placed a lot of emphasis on bringing their offensive numbers up to the same level.

"We have put a lot of time into the offensive side of the game with a lot of work on our confidence and consistency," Bump said. "We are hopeful that our offensive numbers this year will reflect that hard work."

Trio of All-Conference Selections Return

Binghamton has three seniors on its squad that earned second-team all-conference honors in 2021. They include Marissa Braito at second base, Makayla Alvarez at shortstop and Sophia Pappas at the utility position.

Alvarez led the Bearcats last season and tied for No. 10 in the America East with a .350 batting average. She was also seventh in the conference with a .600 slugging percentage and tied for eighth with a .403 on-base percentage. In addition, Alvarez tied for the team lead in both home runs (three) and RBI (11).

Braito, who was also chosen to the America East All-Academic Team, ranked second on the Bearcats in batting (.291) and tied for fourth in the conference with a pair of triples.

Pappas, meanwhile, earned the utility honor based on her success both on the mound and at the plate. She went 1-0 with a save and a 2.84 ERA as a pitcher. Pappas also drove in 11 runs when she batted.

The Bearcats also return their top rookie from last season in sophomore pitcher Allison L'Amoreaux. A 2020 graduate of nearby Maine-Endwell High School, she led the Bearcats with a 1.31 ERA and was named the America East Rookie of the Week twice.

Pitchers

L'Amoreaux leads a staff that also includes fellow starters Chelsea Howard and Morgan Bienkowski. Howard is a graduate student who has made 17 starts during her career. Bienkowski, meanwhile, is a senior who has made 19 starts in her career. In the Bearcats' most recent appearance in the America East Tournament (2019), Bienkowski was named to the All-Tournament Team.

Pappas and redshirt freshman Lindsey Walter will appear primarily in relief roles.

L'Amoreaux and Pappas will also appear in the middle of the batting order.

"Our pitchers work really well together and have great chemistry both on and off the field," Bump said. "We will continue to pitch by committee and work together to win games. We have a lot of experience on the mound and I expect everyone to do great things this year."

Infield

Binghamton's stellar fielding percentage last season was due to the play of several standout veterans in the infield. This year, the majority of those players return to the squad.

"I feel really good about where we are as an infield unit," Bump said. "We are coming off one of our best years defensively and I believe with our experience and leadership in the middle infield -along with our athleticism and versatility, that will continue this year,"

Braito and Alvarez anchor the middle infield for the fourth year in a row. Braito has been the Bearcats' leadoff hitter while Alvarez has appeared in the middle of the batting lineup.

At first base, junior Alex Musial is a transfer from Hostra while L'Amoreaux will see playing time at that position when she is not pitching.

The Bearcats have several options at third base – including senior Alli Richmond, sophomore Shelby Carvalho and redshirt freshman Gabby Guerrero. Richmond, who started seven games in the infield last year, is also on the depth chart at both shortstop and second base. Carvalho, who can also play shortstop, started in 12 games last season. Guerrero, meanwhile, can also be inserted at second base.

Binghamton returns a pair of catchers from last year in junior Quinn DeCicco and sophomore Hailey Ehlers. Together, they combined to start 19 games.

Outfield

Binghamton returns a pair of starting outfielders in senior Chloe Morgan and junior Jillian Fittry.

After appearing in eight games with one start in 2020, Fittry made 21 starts last season and is firmly entrenched in the center field position. Morgan, meanwhile, was an everyday starter in 2019 before missing the 2020 campaign with an injury. Last year, however, she returned to a starting role.

Freshman Alayna Harbaugh arrives from Cicero-North Syracuse High School, having twice been named All-New York State (NYS) as well as All-Central New York (CNY). Fellow rookie Sarah Rende arrives from Ardsley (N.Y.) High School where she too was named All-NYS twice during her career.

In addition to her work on the mound, Walter is a versatile player who is also part of the outfield group.

"I would consider our outfield group to be small but mighty," Bump said. "They have been working at multiple positions so they feel comfortable to hop in and play where they are needed in certain game situations. Our freshmen have fit in really well and I am excited to see what they will add to our lineup – both in the outfield and offensively."

Designated Player

Pappas will be the top option at designated player, having been in that role when she was not pitching last season. Other possibilities include Harbaugh, Richmond, DeCicco and Ehlers.

"Depending on our defensive line up, our designated player position may vary," Bump said. "Regardless of who is inserted in that spot, we feel good about the options we have."

Schedule

The 48-game regular-season slate includes four in-season tournaments as well as 11 home dates at the Bearcats Sports Complex.

"We are really excited for our well-rounded 2022 schedule as our team has worked hard over the last few months and is ready to go to battle," Bump said. "Our four in-season tournaments will offer us the opportunity to grow as a team and prepare us for the always-competitive America East Conference."

The Bearcats' campaign begins with a trip to the Georgia Southern/Battle in the Boro Tournament Feb. 11-13. The three other in-season tournaments take place at the College of Charleston (Feb. 18-20), Grand Canyon (March 4-6) and Maryland (March 18-20).

Binghamton's other non-conference road games include trips to Howard for a single game on March 16 and Colgate for an April 5 doubleheader.

At the Bearcats Sports Complex, Binghamton opens up its home slate with a three-game series against Iona March 26-27. Other non-conference home dates include doubleheaders against Cornell (March 30) and Lehigh (April 19).

America East play begins with a three-game series at UMass Lowell April 9-10. Also on the road, the Bearcats have an April 13 doubleheader at Albany and a three-game series at Maine (April 23-24).

At home, Bearcats has three-game conference series against Stony Brook (April 16-17), Hartford (April 30-May 1) and UMBC (May 6-7). In addition, Binghamton has a single game against Albany April 27.

This year's America East Tournament will be held May 11-14 at a site yet to be announced.