COLLEGE STATION, Texas – The Binghamton softball team (0-2) opened up its 2020 season with a pair of setbacks in the opening day of the Texas A&M Aggie Classic. The Bearcats lost 6-1 to St. John's (1-5) in the opener before being nipped 1-0 by Lamar (2-4) in the nightcap.

Despite the setback, Binghamton got solid pitching efforts from sophomore Morgan Bienkowski and senior Rayn Gibson. Both of them pitched complete games.

Bienkowski went 6.0 innings against the Red Storm, scattering five hits, tying a career high with seven strikeouts and not allowing an earned run. Gibson, meanwhile, went 7.0 innings against the Cardinals, allowing one run on just two hits and striking out five batters.

It was the Binghamton defense, however, that proved fatal against St. John's as it committed six errors. The Red Storm scored three times in the bottom of the second inning off three Bearcat miscues to take a 3-0 lead. In the bottom of the fifth inning, an error with two outs set the stage for Peyton Colby's three-run homer, which padded the St. John's lead to 6-0.

Sophomore designated hitter Sophia Pappas broke the shutout with a solo home run in the top of the seventh inning.

Erin Brown improved to 1-3 with the win. She went the full seven innings, allowing one run on three hits and striking out five batters.

In the second game, it was Aliyjah Ruiz who shut down the Binghamton offense. She fired a three-hit shutout and struck out 11 batters.

Gibson matched Ruiz until Shannon Klaus belted a one-out triple in the top of the sixth inning. She scored two batters later on a fielder's choice.

Binghamton left the tying run on first base when the game ended.

Ruiz evened her record at 1-1.

Senior catcher Sara Herskowitz went 2-for-5 (.400) at the plate during the day.

Binghamton faces host Texas A&M (4 p.m. EST) and St. John's (6:15 p.m. EST) on Saturday as play continues at the Aggie Classic.

NOTE: Dating back to last season, Pappas has now homered in two straight games. She last homered in the Bearcats' America East Tournament game against UMass Lowell on May 10.