After splitting a doubleheader against Virginia Military Institute (7-6) on Saturday, the Binghamton baseball team (2-8) had the chance to end the weekend with a victory on Sunday when it entered the bottom of the 10th with a 1-0 lead. With one out, BU senior second baseman Reed Gamache couldn’t cleanly glove a grounder, making the out at first but missing the chance for a game-ending double play.
The play proved to be a key lost opportunity, as VMI sophomore outfielder Matt Dunlevy followed with a ground ball up the middle to put runners on the corners to set up the Keydets’ comeback. Junior outfielder Will Malbon smashed a walk-off two-RBI double to right field to edge VMI over Binghamton, 2-1.
“It’s not the type of error that shows up in the score-book, but it’s a play we need to make,” Binghamton head coach Tim Sinicki said. “It’s just part of the game.”
The rubber game of the series saw nine innings of scoreless baseball before the Bearcats struck first when Binghamton sophomore shortstop Paul Rufo homered in the top of the tenth. Prior to extra innings, BU had out-hit the Keydets, 6-4. Binghamton redshirt junior Jake Cryts allowed just two hits and no runs in seven innings pitched before handing the ball to freshman reliever Nick Gallagher, who took the loss.
After going 1-1 in Saturday’s doubleheader, the loss was a disappointing end to a series in which BU showed promise in its third straight weekend visiting a slew of tough opponents, including Houston Baptist, who appeared in last year’s NCAA Tournament, and UNC Greensboro.
Binghamton’s pitching has struggled early this season. Now 10 games in, redshirt junior Jake Cryts and his scoreless seven-inning start against VMI on Sunday was only the second time this season a starting pitcher left the mound with at least a tie. To date, no BU starter has accumulated a tally in the win column and the pitching staff has thrown for a combined 9.14 earned-run average.
“It’s simple; we need to pitch better,” Sinicki said. “We’re just taking practice as a chance to develop our pitchers to pitch better. We try to keep it that simple.”
After being delayed a full day due to snowfall in Virginia, senior starting pitcher Mike Bunal lasted just one and two-thirds innings in Saturday’s opener. The Bearcats scored one run in the opening frame before allowing a grand slam in the bottom of the first. The Keydets scored a total of six runs in the first two innings with Bunal on the mound.
Despite a strong offensive showing, Binghamton failed to erase the five-run deficit, eventually dropping the game, 15-9.
The Bearcats were able to earn a split in Saturday’s doubleheader, defeating VMI 15-10, as their slow start to the day gave way to a stronger finish. Binghamton got off to a fast start offensively, scoring four runs in the first inning and forcing VMI sophomore southpaw Brandon Barbery out of the game after two and a third.
Gamache led the team, driving in four runs while sophomore center fielder CJ Krowiak went four-for-five from the plate and scored five runs.
Senior starting pitcher Rob Hardy earned a no decision after allowing three runs in four and one-third innings pitched. Junior reliever Nicholas Liegi earned his first win of the season after allowing three runs in two innings.
Sophomore pitcher Joseph Orlando collected the save, striking out five in two and two-thirds scoreless innings. He took the mound in the bottom of the seventh with a runner on third and allowed three runs off a sacrifice fly, an error and a double, but stopped the bleeding with a strikeout to deny the Keydets’ hope of a comeback.
The Bearcats are set to return to action on Friday with a four-game series against Delaware. First pitch is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. from Bob Hannah Stadium in Newark, Delaware with the series set to continue with a double-header Saturday and a closing game on Sunday.