RALEIGH, N.C. – Binghamton (8-8) began play at the NC State Hyatt Place Invitational with a pair of defeats on Friday. The Bearcats fell 8-4 to Longwood in the morning game and 6-4 to Fordham in the night game.

Against Longwood, the Bearcats took a 4-2 lead through two innings, as junior first baseman Lisa Cadogan and junior catcher Taylor Chaffee each clubbed a two-run home run. In the final five innings, however, Binghamton was held to just one hit.

The Lancers, meanwhile, belted three home runs and took advantage of four Binghamton errors to score a pair of unearned runs.

Longwood broke open a 4-4 tie with four runs in the decisive top of the sixth inning. Chelsea Sciacca delivered the big blow in that frame with a two-run home run.

Elizabeth McCarthy raised her record to 3-5 with the win. The loss was tagged to freshman pitcher Sarah Miller, whose record fell to 5-3.

Junior outfielder Sydney Harbaugh went 2-for-3 and drew a walk. 

Against Fordham, Binghamton once again held a 4-2 lead, this time through five innings. Freshman Kate Richard drilled a three-run home run in the bottom of the third inning and senior shortstop Caytlin Friis doubled home a run one frame later.

As was the case in the opening game, however, the sixth inning proved to be the difference. The Rams scored four runs, with the key blow being a three-run home run by Lindsay Maher.

Rachel Gillen improved to 3-3 with the win while junior pitcher Cara Martin dropped to 3-2 with the loss.

Friis and sophomore outfielder Gabby Bracchi each went 2-for-3 against the Rams.

Binghamton is scheduled to face No. 21 Missouri at 1:30 p.m. and Lipscomb at 8:30 p.m. on Saturday as play continues at the NC State Hyatt Place Invitational.