BOCA RATON, Fla. - Binghamton baseball matched unbeaten host Florida Atlantic (7-0) in hits over the 18 innings but the Bearcats (0-6) dropped a doubleheader Sunday at FAU Baseball Stadium, falling 9-4 and 11-4. The Conference USA member Owls swept the weekend series to make a push for a spot in the national rankings.

Binghamton collected 22 hits in the two games but left 24 runners stranded and surrendered a handful of big innings in each game to hamper its effort.

Because of Saturday's washout, the teams began Game 1 before 10 a.m. and the Bearcats used single runs in the fourth and fifth innings to hold a 2-1 lead. But FAU countered with four runs on five hits in the bottom of the fifth inning and then added two more runs in each of the next two innings to pull away. Binghamton hurt its cause with three errors. 

Sophomore starter Jack Collins worked 3.2 innings and only allowed three hits and a run with six strikeouts. But FAU scored eight runs in their last four innings. 

Junior shortstop Jake Evans led an 11-hit attack with a 3-for-5, 2-RBI showing. Evans delivered a two-out, two-run single in the top of the seventh inning to finish off BU's scoring. Junior center fielder Shane Marshall also went 3-for-5 and sophomore first baseman Kevin Gsell added two hits and two runs scored. 

In Game 2, BU outhit its hosts 11-10 but gave up three home runs. Trailing 1-0, the Bearcats tied the game in the fourth inning when sophomore designated hitter Zachary Taylor hit a two-out RBI double to left field. But the Owls answered with a 3-run home run in the bottom of the frame and two innings later, put five more runs on the board after another 3-run homer. 

The Bearcats scored runs in four of their last six at-bats but couldn't match FAU's big blows. 

Evans finished his superb day with a 3-for-4, RBI performance. Evans went 8-for-13 in the series and leads the team with a .435 average six games in. Taylor wound up 2-for-3 with an RBI and senior second baseman Alex Baratta went 2-for-3. Freshman pinch hitter Tommy Reifler recorded his first collegiate hit when he doubled down the left field line in the eighth inning.  

Binghamton next plays a weekend set at Longwood (Va.) beginning Friday.