STONY BROOK, N.Y. – Junior pitcher Rayn Gibson earned a complete-game victory while junior catcher Sara Herskowitz and freshman shortstop Mikalya Alvarez both homered, highlighting a split by Binghamton (13-16, 2-3 AE) against Stony Brook (16-11, 3-2 AE) in an America East softball doubleheader on Saturday afternoon at University Field. The Bearcats won the first game 6-3 but were nipped 3-2 in the finale.

Gibson went the distance in the first game, scattering three runs (two of which were earned) on eight hits and striking out eight batters. It marked her second-highest strikeout total of the season and improved her record to 6-7.

Herskowitz batted a team-best .500 (3-for-6) during the doubleheader. In addition to her homer in the first game, she finished with a double, had an on-base percentage of .571 and a slugging percentage of 1.167. Alvarez, meanwhile, drove in a team-high three runs for the day.

Up 1-0 entering the top of the fifth inning of the first game, Binghamton plated three runs. Alvarez doubled in the first run and scored one batter later on Herskowitz's two-run homer. In the process, Herskowitz become the first Bearcat player to homer in three straight games since Griffin McIver (April 27-30, 2016).

Stony Brook came back with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. Melissa Rahrich, who entered the weekend leading the America East with eight home runs and 35 RBI, clubbed a two-run shot over the center field fence.

In the top of the seventh inning, the Bearcats padded the lead to 6-2 on RBI singles by junior outfielder Stephanie Ragusa and freshman second baseman Marissa Braito.

Rahrich also pitched the first 4.2 innings for the Seawolves but her record fell to 7-8 with the loss.

Freshman first baseman Alex Guay finished 2-for-4 in the first game.

Once again, Binghamton jumped to an early 1-0 lead in the second game when sophomore third baseman Sarah Benn singled home a run in the top of the second inning. She went on to finish the doubleheader 2-for-5 (.400).

Stony Brook, however, got all three of their runs in the bottom of the third inning. The Seawolves came up with three RBI singles during the frame.

Alvarez trimmed the deficit to 3-2 in the top of the sixth inning. It was her third home run in the team's past three games.

Benn opened the top of the seventh inning with a single but two batters later, the Seawolves ended the game with a double play.

Shelbi Denman raised her record to 6-3 with the victory while the loss was tagged to sophomore pitcher Chelsea Howard, who is now 2-3.

Herskowitz and Benn each went 2-for-3 in the second game.

Binghamton and Stony Brook conclude their weekend series with a noon game on Sunday.

NOTES: Alvarez now leads the team with six home runs while Herskowitz is tops with 21 RBI … Gibson's season-high in strikeouts is 12 against Bethune Cookman … in the Bearcats' last seven games, Herskowitz has homered four times.