VESTAL, N.Y. – Visiting UMass Lowell (19-12, 7-0 AE) scored the winning run in the top of the seventh inning of both games on its way to a 4-3, 3-2 sweep over Binghamton (14-20, 3-7 AE) in an America East softball doubleheader on Saturday afternoon at the Bearcats Sports Complex Softball Facility. With the victories the River Hawks remain tied for first place in the conference.
 
Freshman shortstop Marissa Braito batted a team-best 3-for-7 (.429) for Binghamton. Sophomore shortstop Mikalya Alvarez hit .333 (2-for-6) with a home run while sophomore third baseman Sarah Benn also went 2-for-6 (.333) and had a team-high three RBI.
 
Benn drove in all of her runs on a three-run triple in the bottom of the first inning of the opener, giving the Bearcats a quick 3-0 advantage. The River Hawks, however, tied the game with a run in the top of the second inning and two more runs in the third inning.
 
After three scoreless innings, UMass Lowell plated the go-ahead run on a sacrifice fly by Olivia Labbe in the top of the seventh inning. The Bearcats left the tying run on first base when the game ended in the bottom of the seventh inning.
 
Kaysee Talcik recovered from Benn's triple to pitch six shutout innings and improve to 6-5.
 
Junior Rayn Gibson pitched effectively, striking out six batters and allowing just three earned runs. Her record, however, dropped to 7-9.
 
Braito was 3-for-4 in the opener, tying her career high for hits in the process. Benn drove in three runs for the second game in a row.
 
Alvarez' home took place in the bottom of the fifth inning of the second game, deadlocking the score at 1-1. One inning later, junior catcher Sara Herskowitz singled home Braito, giving the Bearcats a 2-1 lead.
 
Once again, however, the River Hawks were clutch in the top of the seventh inning. Labbe doubled home the tying run and two batters later, Sydney Barker singled home the go-ahead run.
 
The Bearcats again left the tying run on first base when the game ended in the bottom of the seventh inning,
 
Lovina Capria held the Bearcats to just four hits, raising her record to 12-5. One of the runs she surrendered was unearned.
 
Junior Rozlyn Price went the distance, striking out five batters. Her record, however, fell to 3-4.
 
Alvarez finished the second game 2-for-3
 
Courtney Cashman of UMass Lowell entered the day leading the nation with a .552 batting average. She went 2-for-2 with a double and drew six walks – three of which were intentional.
 
Due to the impending weather on Sunday, the final game of the series between Binghamton and UMass Lowell has been moved up to 9 a.m.
 
NOTES: Alvarez now has a team-high seven home runs while Herskowitz is first with 25 RBI.