BINGHAMTON, N.Y. - Binghamton baseball (8-8, 8-8 America East) split a doubleheader with visiting NJIT (8-18, 8-14 AE) Sunday at Rumbletown Stadium, losing 2-1 before taking the nightcap 6-3. The Bearcats won three of four in the series to move back into second place in the division standings. 

In Game 2, junior Josh Kopcza (W, 1-1) fanned a career-high 11, didn't walk a batter in seven innings and BU overcame an early 3-2 hole with four runs in four middle innings.

With the score tied 3-3, Binghamton plated two runs in the sixth on RBI singles by freshman catcher Kevin Reilly and sophomore left fielder Tommy Reifler. The Bearcats then added a final run in the seventh on an RBI single by sophomore first baseman Kevin Gsell. Meanwhile, Kopcza settled into a groove. After allowing three NJIT runs (two earned) in the first two innings, he set down 14 of 15. Kopcza didn't allow a hit over his final five innings. 

Gsell went 3-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored and senior third baseman Justin Drpich went 2-for-3 with two doubles and two runs scored. Senior right fielder Daniel Franchi added two hits as BU mounted a strong offense with 12 hits. 

Sophomore reliever Tanner Beang recorded his first save as a Bearcat after entering in the eighth inning with two on and one out. Bean used an infield pop-up and strikeout to strand two and then worked out of a two-on, one-out jam in the ninth with two pop-outs. 

In the opener, NJIT scored the winning run on an infield error in the top of the seventh inning. After a leadoff walk and failed pickoff, the Highlanders scored when a field-and-throw on a sacrifice bunt went awry. The Bearcats had taken a 1-0 lead with a run in the third on a two-out RBI single by senior second baseman Alex Baratta. But NJIT countered with a run in the fourth.

Sophomore Jack Collins (0.66 ERA) worked 6.0 innings and gave up six hits and one earned run but didn't factor in the decision. 

The Bearcats were held in check with six hits and nine left on base. 

In the four-game series, Binghamton pitchers struck out 29 and allowed just three earned runs in 32 innings (0.84 ERA).