WEST HARTFORD, Conn. - Binghamton baseball (10-13, 5-6 America East) broke open a close game with three runs in each of the sixth and seventh innings en route to a 9-3 victory over host Hartford (12-18, 5-5 AE) Sunday afternoon from Fiondella Field. The Bearcats took two of three in the weekend series to gain ground in the conference standings.

Junior Rob Hardy (W, 2-2) scattered eight hits and two runs in 5.1 innings, lowering his season ERA to 4.81. 

Binghamton used single runs in the first, fourth and fifth innings to stake a 3-1 lead. Then BU struck for three runs in the sixth inning and after Hartford got one back in the bottom of the frame, the Bearcats tacked on three more in the seventh.

In the decisive sixth, senior center fielder Zach Blanden hit a two-out RBI double and junior third baseman David Schanz followed with a two-run home run over the left field wall, giving BU a 6-1 cushion. One inning later, sophomore shortstop Brendan Skidmore hit an RBI double and junior first baseman Kyle Coronel came through with a two-run double down the left field ikne, extending Binghamton's lead to 9-2. The Hawks got one run in the ninth to finish the scoring.

Skidmore, who ripped a solo home run to lead off the fourth inning, wound up 3-for-5 with three RBI. He has a team-high 20 RBI in 21 games this spring. Blanden went 3-for-4 with an RBI and three runs scored. Schanz had two hits and two RBI and freshman DH Chris McGee added two hits. 

Blanden hit .462 in the weekend series and senior right fielder Jake Thomas (1 RBI on Sunday) hit .429. Binghamton's pitching staff held down a 3.86 ERA in the three games against Hartford. 

The Bearcats host Marist in a midweek twinbill at 2 p.m. on Wednesday - the team's home opener after 23 straight games away from home to open the season.