VESTAL, N.Y. - Visiting Albany rode two strong starting pitching performances and stifled Binghamton baseball in a doubleheader sweep Saturday afternoon at Bearcats Baseball Complex. The Great Danes (24-21, 11-9 America East) posted wins of 3-1 and 4-0 over the Bearcats (21-21, 10-8 AE).

Binghamton began play in second place in the congested conference standings with an eye on gaining ground on idle league-leader Stony Brook, but closed the day feeling the heat of after mustering just one run on six hits in the 16 innings. 

In the opener, Albany erased a 1-0 BU lead with a three-run home run in the fourth inning and that margin stood up as Danes starter Dominic Savino retired 16 of the last 17 Bearcat hitters. Binghamton had taken the lead thanks to an unearned run in the third inning. Junior third baseman Justin Drpich reached on an infield single and took second on a throwing error. After advancing to third on a groundout, Drpich scored when junior left fielder Daniel Franchi hit a hard RBI infield single to third. 

Senior starter Nick Gallagher (L, 3-5) took the loss despite limiting Albany to five hits with seven strikeouts in his 6.0 innings.

In Game 2, Albany snapped a scoreless tie with four runs on four hits and an error in the fourth inning. The Bearcats were hampered by several dropped balls in the sun and a miss on a soft blooper on the right side opened the door for Albany, which used a leadoff triple, squeeze bunt and three singles to do the rest of the damage.

The Bearcats managed just two hits and hit into two double plays.

Junior Ben Anderson (L, 8-3) struck out seven and allowed three earned runs on six hits in 6.0 innings.

The final game of the series on Sunday has been cancelled with steady rain in the forecast throughout the day.