AUBURN, Ala. – Binghamton (1-10) concluded its stay at the Auburn Tiger Softball Invitational with a pair of games on Sunday. The Bearcats lost 11-2 to No. 18 Minnesota (12-7) and dropped an 11-6 slugfest to the host Tigers (13-8). Both Minnesota and Auburn advanced to the NCAA Tournament last year and the Gophers also made it to the College World Series.

Freshman outfielder Tessa Nuss finished the day 4-for-6 (.667) and scored three times. Senior outfielder Stephanie Ragusa was 3-for-5 (.600) and scored twice while senior first baseman Kassidy Seary homered for the third time in as many days.

Against the Gophers, the Bearcats staked a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning on a RBI single by Nuss. Minnesota, however, got a three-run home run by Natalie DenHartog in the bottom of the same inning to go up 3-1.

The Gophers then blew the game open with three more runs in the bottom of the second inning and scored five times in the third inning to go up 11-1. Emily Hansen capped the scoring with a three-run home run.

Nuss plated the Bearcats' final run in the game on a RBI groundout by sophomore pitcher Sophia Pappas.

Carlie Brandt got the win to record her first decision of the year. Senior pitcher Rozlyn Price dropped to 0-2 with the loss.

Against Auburn, the Bearcats got three runs in the top of the first inning and two more in the second inning to go up 5-1. Sophomore second baseman Marissa Braito drilled a two-run single in the first inning while Seary and Price hit back-to-back solo home runs in the second inning.

The Tigers, however, came back with six runs in the bottom of the third inning. Brittany Marasette capped the scoring in that frame with a grand slam.

Nuss pulled the Bearcats to within 7-6 in the top of the fourth inning when she scored on a RBI single by junior shortstop Makayla Alvarez. Auburn, however, got that run back in the bottom of the same inning and added three insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth inning.

Ashley Swindle improved to 5-4 with the win while Samantha Yarborough tossed the final three innings to record her first save. The loss was tagged to senior pitcher Rayn Gibson, who is now 1-4.

Ragusa finished the Auburn Tiger Invitational with a team-best .467 batting average (7-for-15) while Nuss hit .421 (8-for-19). Seary, meanwhile, led the Bearcats with her three home runs as well as four RBI.

Binghamton heads to the Hampton & Norfolk Tournament this coming Friday-Sunday.