BINGHAMTON, N.Y. - Visiting Albany (9-12, 7-7 America East) swept a doubleheader from Binghamton baseball (5-7, 5-7 AE) Saturday afternoon at Rumbletown Stadium, winning the opener 7-3 in 12 innings and taking the nightcap 5-3.

The opener, scheduled for seven innings, went five extra-innings before the Great Danes plated four decisive runs in the 12th, thanks to two hits and two walks. Before that, the teams traded runs in the 10th inning to extend the game. Binghamton totalled 13 hits but left nine stranded and missed several chances to end the game, particularly in the ninth and 10th frames. 

Senior right fielder Daniel Franchi went 5-for-6 to tie the school record for hits in a game. He collected base hits in his first five at-bats with two doubles and three singles. 

Albany turned three double plays to squelch BU scoring threats, including the bottom of the ninth when the Bearcats had the winning run on third with one out before a 4-6-3 twin killing extended the game. One inning later, Albany took a 3-2 lead before BU loaded the bases with no out and appeared on the cusp of winning again. A sacrifice fly by first baseman Kevin Gsell made it 3-3 but then the Bearcats' potential winning run was cut down at the plate in a very close play after a sharp grounder to third. Center fielder Shane Marshall, who had dropped down a perfect bunt single earlier in the inning, raced home but was called out. 

Thomas Babalis went the first 5.0 innings and allowed just one hit. Normal Sunday starter Jack Collins entered in relief and went 4.1 innings of two-hit ball. Collins struck out six and didn't allow an earned run and he and Babalis stifled Albany on three hits through nine innings.   

Marshall gave BU an early 2-0 lead with a two-run double in the third inning. Freshman DH Eric Madenberg added two hits. 

In Game 2, Albany jumped out to a quick lead with three runs in the first inning and the Danes added two more runs in the fourth to provide the needed margin. Binghamton tallied single runs in the first, third and fourth innings but was held in check on six hits in the seven-inning contest. Because the opener went past nine innings, the second game was changed to seven innings. 

Freshman reliever Justin Rosner pitched 3.1 hitless innings to keep BU in the game. 

Senior second baseman Alex Baratta went 2-for-4 to lead the offense. 

UPDATE: Sunday's scheduled doubleheader between the two teams has been canceled due to rain.