Washington, D.C. (March 8, 2014) – Despite a season-high 14 strikeouts by senior pitcher Nicole Pagano and a 3-for-3 performance at the plate from fellow senior Cat Clifford, the Mount softball team suffered a 5-4 loss to Binghamton on Saturday on day one of the Colonials Tournament at the GW Softball Field.

The Mountaineers (6-6) held a 4-3 edge heading into the bottom of the sixth until Binghamton (4-5) took the lead on a two-run homerun from Taylor Chaffee that proved to be the difference.

Binghamton got off to a fast start with two runs in the first inning on an RBI double from Chaffee, who ended up scoring later in the inning on a throw following a wild pitch.

The Mount manufactured its first run of the game in the top of the second when Clifford led off with a single and advanced when Lindsey Ruhle laid down a successful sacrifice bunt. Holly Buckel followed with an RBI double to right center to plate Clifford, and Marisa Mayes was next with a single through the left side of the infield that allowed Buckel to touch home to level the score at 2-2. Mayes finished the day 2-for-4 at the dish.

Both sides scored in the third with the Mount earning its run on Clifford's RBI double to score Rachel Gavigan from first.

With the game knotted at 3-3, the Mount loaded the bases in the top of the sixth, and a fielding error by the Bearcats allowed Rachel Heinze to score for a 4-3 advantage. The lead was short lived, however, with Chaffee's home run following a leadoff walk to give Binghamton the 5-4 edge in the bottom of the frame.

The Mount put a runner on second base with no outs in the top of the seventh, but could not convert.

Pagano gave up just four hits and two walks to go with her 14 strikeouts in the loss. The Mount picked up nine hits on Binghamton's starter, Demi Laney, who pitched the first six innings, and one off of Annika Wiesinger, who closed out the game.

The Mount concludes the Colonials Tournament tomorrow with games versus Binghamton at 1:30 p.m. and George Washington at 3:45 p.m.