BALTIMORE, Md. – Freshman outfielder Shelby Carvalho drove in a pair of runs and the pitching staff surrendered just three runs, highlighting Binghamton's split against UMBC in an America East softball doubleheader on Sunday afternoon at The Diamond. The Bearcats (6-6, 2-6 AE) lost 1-0 in nine innings in the first game against the Retrievers (13-7, 2-1 AE) but won the nightcap 4-2. The second contest did not count as a conference game.

Carvalho stroked a two-run single in the top of the second inning of the second game, giving the Bearcats a 2-1 lead. She also scored one of two Binghamton runs in the top of the fifth inning on a single by freshman catcher Hailey Elhers that padded the lead to 4-1.

UMBC trimmed the deficit to 4-2 on a RBI double by Madison O'Berg in the bottom of the sixth inning. From there, however, junior pitcher Morgan Bienkowski retired the final five batters of the game.

Bienkowski, who pitched the final two innings, recorded her first save of the year. The win went to sophomore pitcher Sophia Pappas, who is 1-0.

Gillian McCarthy took the loss, dropping her record to 0-3.

In the opener, freshman pitcher Hannah Mearns and Courtney Coppersmith of UMBC took part in an impressive pitcher's duel that went into extra innings.

In just her second career start, Mearns went 8.0 innings and scattered just five hits, struck out six batters and did not allow a walk. Coppersmith, the 2019 America East Pitcher of the Year, held the Bearcats to three hits, struck out 16 batters and also did not issue a walk.

Finally, in the bottom of the ninth inning, UMBC loaded the bases with no outs and senior pitcher Rayn Gibson was brought into relieve Mearns. The previous day, Gibson won a 2-1, eight-inning battle against Coppersmith.

Gibson retired the first two UMBC batters she faced but up next was Shenel Stott, who ended the game with a RBI single.

Despite having her record drop to 1-1 for the year, Mearns lowered her ERA to 1.83. In her last 17 innings, she has allowed only two runs.

Coopersmith, meanwhile, improved to 8-2 for the season.

Gibson also has been on a solid stretch. In her last 9.1 innings, she is 2-0 with just one run allowed.

"Overall, I think we saw some really good things this weekend," head coach Michelle Johnston said. "We played some great defense and our outfield made some awesome plays. Hannah and Rayn pitched fantastic games and the entire pitching staff did a really good job. Offensively, we keep improving and we will continue to work on having good, consistent quality at-bats."

Junior Marissa Braito hit a team-best .444 (4-for-9) during the four-game weekend series. In the process, she raised her season batting average to .323.