GREENSBORO, N.C. - Binghamton baseball (1-4) let an 8-2 lead slip away and dropped the opener of a three-game weekend set at UNC Greensboro (4-1), 10-9, Friday afternoon at UNCG Baseball Stadium.

The Bearcats put seven runs on the board in the fifth inning to erase a 2-1 deficit. But the host Spartans returned the favor in the bottom of the sixth, scoring seven runs of their own. UNC Greensboro added another in the seventh inning before BU got one back in the ninth. The Bearcats had the tying run at third base before a strikeout ended the game.

Junior first baseman Brendan Skidmore had three RBI and senior third baseman David Schanz went 3-for-5 with an RBI and two runs scored. Sophomore shortstop Paul Rufo drove in two runs, second-year right fielder Chris McGee went 2-for-4 with an RBI and sophomore catcher Jason Agresti had two hits.

On the hill, senior right-hander Mike Bunal settled down after spotting UNCG two runs in the first. Bunal put four scoreless frames up before the Spartan uprising in the sixth. Bunal went 5.2 innings and scattered six hits before giving way to sophomore Dylan Stock (L, 0-1). Junior Nicholas Liegi went the final 2.1 innings and gave up a run.

UNCG scored nine of its 10 runs with two outs. A two-out, two-run single gave them the early lead in the first inning. Then in the big sixth inning, the Spartans combined five hits with three walks, two wild pitches, a hit batter and passed ball to score seven runs - all with two out.

One inning earlier, BU sent 12 men to the plate and used five singles and four walks to do their damage. Rufo's two-out, two-run single capped the seven-run barrage and gave the Bearcats the 8-2 lead. 

Down 10-8 in the ninth inning, Schanz led off with a single and moved to second on a walk by senior second baseman Reed Gamache. An Agresti sacrifice moved both runners into scoring position. Skidmore plated Schanz with a fly ball to center but BU's 11-hit attack fell one hit away from tying the game.

The teams continue the series with a single game at 2 p.m. on Saturday. Senior Rob Hardy (0-0, 5.40 ERA) takes the hill for the Bearcats.