AUBURN, Ala. –  The Binghamton softball team (0-7) took on some stiff competition in the opening day of the Auburn Tiger Invitational. The Bearcats lost 8-2 to Georgia Southern (8-2) in the first game before No. 18 Minnesota (9-6) beat them 11-0 in the nightcap.

Sophomore second baseman Marissa Braito went 2-for-6 over the two games (.333). Senior first baseman Kassidy Seary homered and finished the day with an on-base percentage of .400.

Braito scored the Bearcats' first run against Georgia Southern. She came home on a sacrifice fly by sophomore designated player Sophia Pappas in the bottom of the first inning. At that point, the Bearcats trailed 2-1.

Seary, meanwhile, homered in the bottom of the fifth inning, pulling the Bearcats to within 4-2. It was her first home run of the season.

Georgia State, however, added four insurance runs in the top of the sixth inning. Faith Shirley had the big blow with a two-run home run.

Rylee Waldrip improved to 4-2 with the win while the loss was tagged to sophomore pitcher Morgan Bienkowski. Her record is now 0-3.

Against Minnesota, senior pitcher Rayn Gibson tossed three scoreless innings to start the game. She struck out four batters during that stretch.

From there, however, the Gophers reeled off 11 runs over the next three innings. Makenna Partain homered and drove in four runs during that stretch and Carlie Brant added a three-run double.

Autumn Pease got the win and is now 4-1 this season. Gibson dropped to 0-3 with the loss.

On Saturday, Binghamton faces Georgia Southern at 1:30 p.m. and host Auburn at 7 p.m. as play continues at the Tiger Invitational.