Contact: John Hartrick (hartrick@binghamton.edu)

OLD WESTBURY, N.Y. - Freshman right fielder Chris McGee belted a three-run home run in the seventh inning to lift Binghamton baseball (13-16-1) to a 3-1 win over host NYIT (11-21) and a split of a doubleheader Saturday afternoon at Lorenzo Field. The host Bears won the opener 1-0. Both games were seven-inning affairs. The teams will complete the three-game set with a single game at noon on Sunday.

In Game 2, BU trailed 1-0 before rallying in its final at-bat. Freshman pinch-hitter Pat Britt led off the inning with a single up the middle. Freshman shortstop Paul Rufo dropped down a bunt and reached when the NYIT pitcher threw it away at first, allowing both runners to advance a base. McGee then launched the first pitch he saw over the wall in right field for his first collegiate home run.

Senior reliever Anthony Grillini (W, 3-0) retired the side in order in the bottom of the seventh to nail down the win. Junior Mike Bunal had gone 5.0 innings and allowed just one run on a solo homer to lead off the NYIT fifth frame. Bunal scattered three hits and struck out five.  

McGee had half of BU's six hits, going 3-for-3 with the 3-run round-tripper and one run scored. 

The win was the 499th for 23-year head coach Tim Sinicki. 

In the opener, BU was held to three hits - just one over the final six innings - and suffered the shutout loss. The setback spoiled a good showing from senior starter Greg Ostner (L, 1-5), who went the distance, scattering four hits and notching five strikeouts with no walks. Ostner gave up an unearned run in the sixth inning after an infield single and subsequent error came back to cost the Bearcats.

Offensively, BU had an opportunity in the first inning but had a runner thrown out at the plate and then left the bases loaded. Binghamton also left two stranded in the third inning. Senior center fielder Zach Blanden had a hit to give him 199 in his career. Classmate Jake Thomas, also approaching the 200-hit plateau, (195) sat out the doubleheader with an injury.