After splitting a Saturday doubleheader with visiting Stony Brook, Binghamton baseball fell behind 8-0 in Sunday’s series finale and lost 8-4 at the Bearcats Sports Complex.
The Bearcats (21-17, 10-10 America East) stand fourth in the conference — a half-game behind third-place Hartford and two-and-a-half games behind second-place Albany. With nine conference games remaining, Binghamton stands one-and-a-half games ahead of the fifth-place Seawolves (17-28, 9-12 AE) for the final conference tournament berth.
“We control our own destiny … plain and simple,” Binghamton head coach Tim Sinicki said. “If we play well like we are capable of we will be in the post-season. If we don’t, then I guess we don’t deserve to extend the season.”
In the opening game of the series, one pitch proved to be the deciding factor in Stony Brook’s 5-1 victory. After the first two Seawolves struck out to start the fifth inning, the next three batters reached safely and junior first baseman Kevin Courtney cleared the bases with a blast over the right-center field wall off senior starter Jake Lambert.
Lambert pitched all eight innings and struck out six for the Bearcats, but allowed five earned runs. The loss dropped him to 4-2 on the season.
“Sometimes you just have to tip your cap to the other team,” Sinicki said. “Stony Brook did a great job with two out against Jake in the fifth inning and it proved to be the difference.”
In the nightcap, two runs in the first inning provided the Bearcats with all the offense they would need in their 3-1 win. Junior outfielder Shaun McGraw singled to drive in the first run, while senior infielder Jordon Smucker grounded out to bring home the second.
On the hill, meanwhile, junior starter Jack Rogalla overwhelmed the Stony Brook offense, holding it to only four hits through nine innings to improve to 4-3.
“Jack [has] been solid all season and it’s because he mixes pitches well and pounds the strike zone,” Sinicki said. “Jack knew we needed a big effort from him and he delivered.”
Four Stony Brook runs in the sixth inning of Sunday’s series finale broke the game wide open. Courtney came through again for the Seawolves, launching a three-run homer in the inning as Stony Brook built a 8-0 lead.
Senior starter Jay Lynch, who had allowed just one earned run in his previous 21 innings, was tagged for nine hits and four earned runs in five innings. He fell to 4-4 on the year.
“Jay has been so good all conference season,” Sinicki said. “I think Stony Brook just had a good game plan against him and did a good job making contact when he got to two strikes against them.”
BU’s offensive woes continued in the third game of the series. The Bearcats were held to just one run on three hits through the first eight innings of play before finally breaking through against the Stony Brook pitching in the ninth. Sophomore right fielder Zach Blanden scorched a two-run double to the wall in right center to bring the Bearcats to within five runs. Then freshman third baseman David Schanz grounded out to bring home the fourth Binghamton run before a comebacker ended the game at 8-4.
Sinicki said the offense’s overall execution this weekend was subpar and that the Bearcats struggled to put forth a winning effort for the duration of games.
“Our goal all season has been the same and will continue to be the same moving forward: play complete games,” Sinicki said. “When we execute on offense and defense, and pitch well we are as good as anyone in the conference. We just have to learn to put all three of those phases together on a more consistent basis.”
The Bearcats will take on visiting nonconference rivals Marist and Siena today and Wednesday before hosting Hartford (14-27, 11-10 AE) for a three-game series over the weekend.
Today’s contest against Marist is set to begin at 3:30 p.m. at the Bearcats Sports Complex, while Siena comes in Wednesday for a scheduled 4 p.m. first pitch.