BROOKLYN, N.Y. – Junior third baseman Kate Richard homered and drove in six runs, highlighting Binghamton's split of a pair of non-conference softball games on Sunday afternoon at LIU Field. The Bearcats (7-12) defeated Princeton (6-8) in eight innings before losing 12-4 to LIU-Brooklyn (14-18) in six innings.
 
Richard finished the day 3-for-7 (.429) and  also scored a pair of runs. Junior outfielder Jessica Rutherford was 2-for-5 (.400) and drove in four runs. Senior outfielder Gabby Bracchi was 3-for-7, scored three times and had a pair of RBI.
 
In the opener, it was a six-run top of the eighth inning that proved to be decisive. Rutherford broke a 7-7 tie with a three-run double. She scored one batter later on Richards's two-run homer. Freshman catcher Sara Herskowitz added an insurance run on a RBI double.
 
The Tigers could only get one run back in the bottom of the eighth inning.
 
Binghamton had trailed 3-0 before erupting for five runs in the top of the second inning. Brachhi tied the game with a two-run double, Rutherford drew a bases-loaded walk and Richard drove in the final run on a sacrifice fly.
 
Later in the game, the Bearcats were down 6-5 entering the top of the sixth inning but came up with a pair of runs to retake the lead. Richard tripled home the tying run and later scored on a single by senior outfielder Bridget Hunt.
 
In the bottom of the seventh inning, the Bearcats were one out away from the win. Kaylee Grant, however, drove in the game-tying run to force extra innings.
 
Freshman pitcher Rayn Gibson won her fourth straight decision, improving her record to 5-4. Riley Wilkinson took the loss, dropping her record to 1-2.
 
The 13 runs represents the most scored by Binghamton since it defeated Niagara 15-1 on March 31, 2016.
 
Rutherford's four RBI tied her career high, which she set against Albany on April 19, 2015. Richard's homer was her team-best fifth of the season.
 
The Bearcats also looked to be in command against LIU when they scored four runs in the top of the fifth inning to go up 4-1. Richard had a two-run single and Rutherford later scored on a wild pitch.
 
In the bottom of the inning, however, the host Blackbirds came up with six runs. The big blow was a three-run homer by Schae Dickson.
One inning later, LIU clinched the win with five more runs. Dickson once again had the key hit with a two-run double.
 
Haley Irvis improved to 1-1 with the victory while freshman pitcher Rozlyn Price was tagged with the loss, dropping her record to 2-6.
 
SCHEDULE NOTE: Binghamton's home doubleheader on Tuesday has been moved to April 8 at 11 a.m.