COLLEGE SOFTBALL: HAMMOND, ADAMS LEAD ALBANY TO AMERICA EAST TITLE GAME (2022-05-15)

Valley Sports Report
VESTAL — Waverly grad Wendi Hammond, and Athens grad Emma Adams played big roles for the University of Albany in their march to the America East Championship game here Saturday at Binghamton University.

The second-seeded Great Danes notched wins over third-seeded UMass-Lowell in the semifinals and the consolation finals, but dropped a pair of decisions to top-seeded Maryland-Baltimore County.

In the opener Thursday afternoon, Hammond earned the win, and Adams had the best game of her college career in a 6-5 win over UMass-Lowell.

Adams, a junior, tripled and singled, scored one run, and had a career-high four RBI in the win, while Hammond singled and scored two runs.

Adams blasted a two-run triple into the right-center field game in the first inning, scoring Hammond and another teammate, to give Albany a 2-0 lead.

Adams added a two-run single in the bottom of the third inning to make it 6-3, with Hammond also scoring on that hit.

Hammond, a junior, allowed three runs on four hits, while striking out one and walking two in three innings to earn the win, improving to 14-8 on the season.

In the winner’s bracket finale Friday, a pair of UMBC pitchers held Albany to two hits in a 1-0 decision.

Hammond allowed just one run on three hits, while striking out five and and walking two in five innings. She was tagged with the loss.

Adams had one of Albany’s two hits in the loss.

The Lady Great Dames bounced back Friday afternoon with a 5-3 win over UMass-Lowell to advance to a championship game rematch with UMBC.

Hammond closed out the game with an inning of one-hit scoreless relief for her second save o fate season.

Adams singled in three at-bats — her fourth hit of the tournament.

In the finals Saturday, UMBC ace Courtney Coppersmith, who earned the win in Friday’s 1-0 win with two scoreless innings of relief, tossed a one-hitter with 14 strikeouts to lead the Retrievers to American East title.

Hammond threw three innings of scoreless relief for Albany, yielding two hits, while striking out two.

Hammond was 0-for-1 at the plate, and Adams was 0-for-2.

On the season, Hammond was 14-9 with two saves, and a 3.02 ERA. She struck out 103 and walked 40 in 136 2/3 innings. For her career, Hammond is 27-16 with a 3.00 ERA.

At the plate, Hammond hit .229 (11 hits in 48 ABs) with one double, one triple, two home runs, four RBI, and eight runs scored, and two stolen bases. For her career, Hammond is a .235 hitter with three home runs in 81 ABs.

Adams hit .273 (12 hits in 44 ABs) with two doubles, one triple, seven RBI, eight runs scored and one stolen base. For her career, Adams hit .210 with one home run and 10 RBI in 62 ABs.

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IN PHOTO: Wendi Hammond (left) and Emma Adams.