Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 CLEARWATER, Fla. – Binghamton (3-3) ran up against some stiff competition in the first day of the South Florida Softball Invitational on Friday afternoon at Eddie Moore Field. The Bearcats were defeated 5-3 by Troy (14-5) and 6-5 by Iowa (10-6).

Sophomore shortstop Makayla Alvarez batted a team-best .429 during the two games (3-for-7), scored three times and drove in a run. For the season, she has hit safely in all six games and is batting a team-best .421.

Sophomore first baseman Alex Guay and sophomore outfielder Hannah Lyons each finished with a pair of RBI. On the mound, sophomore pitcher Chelsea Howard threw 4.1 scored innings and struck out five batters.

In the opener, Troy plated three runs in the top of the second inning but the Bearcats chipped away at the deficit over the ensuing two innings. Guay had a RBI ground out in the bottom of the second inning and junior catcher Sara Herskowitz pulled Binghamton to within 3-2 with a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the third inning.

Troy extended the lead to 6-2 with three runs in the top of the fourth inning but Guay got a run back on an infield single in the bottom of the same inning.

Binghamton left the tying run at the plate when the game ended.

Leanna Johnston improved to 9-1 with the win while freshman pitcher Morgan Bienkowski fell to 0-2 with the loss.

Alvarez finished 2-for-4 and scored twice.

Against the Hawkeyes in the nightcap, Binghamton took control of the game with four runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to take a 5-3 lead. Lyons drove in two of the runs on a fielders' choice.

Down to their last two outs in the top of the seventh inning, however, the Hawkeyes erupted for five runs. Sydney Owens had the key hit with a two-run triple, putting Iowa ahead 6-5. She then scored one of the two Hawkeye's insurance runs later in the frame.

The Bearcats left the tying run in the on-deck circle when the game ended.

Allison Doocy raises her record to 8-2 with the victory. Junior pitcher Rayn Gibson was tagged with the loss, dropping her record to 1-1.

Freshman outfielder Chloe Morgan went 2-for-3 against Iowa and scored twice while second baseman Marissa Braito drew three walks.

Sophomore third baseman Sarah Benn hit safely in both games, going 2-for-6 on the day. 

Binghamton continues play at the South Florida Invitational with games on Saturday against Bethune Cookman at 3 p.m. and Western Michigan at 5:45 p.m.