CHARLESTON, S.C. – Graduate student pitcher Chelsea Howard fired a five-hit shutout while senior shortstop Makayla Alvarez and freshman outfielder Alayna Harbaugh each finished with three hits, leading Binghamton (6-4) to a 3-0 win over Valparaiso (5-4) in its final game at the College of Charleston Invitational on Sunday morning at the COC Softball Stadium. The victory is the second straight shutout for the Bearcats.

In addition to scattering just five hits, Howard struck out four batters, issued only a pair of walks and did not allow an extra-base hit. Her record improves to 2-2.

Alvarez, meanwhile, had three extra-base hits with a home run and two doubles. In the process, she tied her career high for hits in a game and set her career mark for doubles.

As for Harbaugh, she went a 3-for-3 at the plate and drew a walk. It marked her third multiple-hit game of the season and raised her batting average to .375.

Harbaugh scored the first run of the game on a sacrifice fly by senior designated played Sophia Pappas in the top of the third inning. For Pappas, it was her team-best fourth RBI of the weekend.

Alvarez padded the lead to 2-0 when she led off the top of the fourth inning with a home run over the left field fence. It was her 17th career home run, which moves her into sole possession of ninth place all time in program history.

Two innings later, Alvarez completed the scoring on an RBI single by redshirt second baseman Gabby Guerrero.

From there, Howard allowed just two base runners over the final two innings.

Cheyenne Neitz was tagged with the loss, dropping her record to 0-2.

Alvarez led the Bearcats in hitting during their five games at Charleston, going 6-for-15 (.400) with three doubles and a home run. Senior third baseman Alli Richmond hit .375 (6-for-16) with three doubles while Guerrero finished .364 (4-for-11) and drove in a pair of runs.

On the mound, Howard, Pappas and sophomore pitcher Allison L'Amoreaux compiled an ERA of 2.43 and held the opposition to a .215 batting average during the weekend at Charleston.

Binghamton heads to the Grand Canyon Tournament March 4-6.