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Binghamton University Athletics

NCAA Michigan
Michael Sudhalter
Olivia Kennedy
0
Binghamton BING 20-27
6
Winner Michigan MICH 35-21
Binghamton BING
20-27
0
Final
6
Michigan MICH
35-21
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Binghamton BING 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 2
Michigan MICH 0 0 4 0 2 0 X 6 7 1

W: Ellis, Gabby (14-8) L: Glover, Delaney (4-7)

Game Recap: Softball | | David O’Brian (dobrian@binghamton.edu)

Softball Season Ends with 6-0 loss to Michigan at NCAAs

Bearcats conclude 2026 campaign with second straight regional appearance

NORMAN, Okla. – The Binghamton softball team (20-27) saw its 2026 campaign come to an end with a 6-0 loss to Michigan (35-21) in a NCAA Tournament elimination game on Saturday afternoon at Love's Field. The game marked the Bearcats' second straight contest against a Power-4 Conference opponent, having faced No. 3 Oklahoma on Friday.

The Wolverines broke the game open with four runs in the third inning and another pair of runs in the fifth inning. Lauren Putz drilled a three-run home run in the third inning and Erin Hoehn capped the scoring with a solo home run in the fifth inning.

Although the Bearcats were held to two hits, they also drew four walks against Michigan pitcher Gabby Ellis. Junior outfielder Maddy Dodig was 1-for-1 and had two walks. The Bearcats, however, left all six runners on base - including two in both the fourth and six innings.

Ellis improved to 14-8 with the complete-game shutout while the loss was tagged to junior pitcher Delaney Glover. Her record dropped to 4-7.

Despite the loss, the Bearcats wrapped up their season at the NCAA Regionals for the second season in a row. Binghamton won its second straight America East championship last weekend to earn the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. 

The game against Michigan marked the final contest for seniors Olivia Kennedy, Emma Lawson and Rebecca Minnichbach. All of them were in the starting lineup during the Bearcats' games at the NCAA Regionals.

Sophomore third baseman Rachel Carey ended the 2026 season with a .468 batting average. That marks the second-highest mark in Binghamton program history, trailing only Kim Jacoby's .497 average in 1987. Her 75 hits broke the single-season school record of 71 hits, turned in by Jessica Rutherford in 2016.

In addition, Carey's batting average is the fifth-best single-season mark in America East Conference history. It's the highest mark since Colleen Cashman of UMass Lowell hit .508 in 2019.

As a team, Binghamton hit .312 during the 2026 season, which represents the third-best mark in program history. The Bearcats' 52 home runs rank second all time while their 265 runs ranks fourth. The 85 doubles Binghamton hit this season broke the 2024 mark of 83 doubles. 

Other significant final team statistics for the Bearcats this season included their .518 slugging percentage (second), .404 on-base percentage (second) as well as 160 walks (second). 

Since the start of the 2023 season, Binghamton has gone 118-77 (.605) with a pair of America East championships (2025 & 2026), two regular-season conference titles (2024 & 2025) as well as two trips to the NCAA Tournament (2025 & 2026).


 
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