VESTAL, N.Y. – Graduate student pitcher Chelsea Howard struck out a career-best 12 batters and junior catcher Quinn DeCicco finished 4-for-6 (.667) with a home run, highlighting Binghamton's split against Iona in a non-conference softball doubleheader on Saturday afternoon at the Bearcats Sports Complex. The Bearcats (12-11) lost the first game 5-3 to the Gaels (7-13) but roared back for a 10-2, five-inning victory in the finale. The doubleheader marked Binghamton's first home games of the season.

Howard's performance came in the second game. She scattered just two runs on two hits through 5.0 innings and raised her record to 4-5. In addition, her 12 strikeouts was the highest total by a Binghamton pitcher since Rayn Gibson struck out 12 batters against Bethune Cookman on March 2, 2019.

DeCicco, meanwhile, now has a career-best and team-high nine game hitting streak. During that stretch, she has homered twice and driven in 11 runs. DeCicco's two home runs have come in the past three games.

Junior infielder Alex Musial was 3-for-5 (.600) during the doubleheader with a home run and three RBI. Freshman outfielder Sarah Rende was 3-for-6 (.500) with a pair of doubles and two RBI.

Freshman outfielder Alayna Harbaugh, meanwhile, was 2-for-5 and also drew a pair of walks. She is now batting a team-best .366 so far this season.

"It feels good to get back home for the first time this season," head coach Jess Bump said. "We had a lot of fan support today. Obviously, we would have liked to have get the sweep but we really liked how the girls bounced back in the second game."

Howard's pitching gem did not get off to a good start as she gave up a leadoff home run to Allie Taylor in the top of the first inning. Binghamton came back, however, with five runs in the bottom of the same inning. Rende had the key hit with a two-run single. She later scored on an RBI single by DeCicco.

After Iona plated a run in the top of the third inning, the Bearcats responded with three more runs in the bottom of the same inning. Senior outfielder Alli Richmond doubled home a pair of runs during that frame. She is now hitting .351 for the season with a team-best 11 doubles and 12 RBI.

DeCicco got on base again with a single in the bottom of the fourth inning. She then scored on Musial's two-run home run, padding the lead to 10-2.

Howard iced the game when she struck out the side in the top of the fifth inning.

The loss was tagged to Samantha Rieb, whose record dropped to 0-3.

DeCicco's three hits in the second game represents her career high.

In the opener, the pitcher of distinction was Kara Zazarro of Iona, who struck out 11 batters and raised her record to 5-6. Offensively, Taylor provided the big blow with a three-run homer in the top of the fifth inning.

The Bearcats were down 1-0 entering the bottom of the fourth inning but came up with a pair of runs. Rende tied the game when she scored on a sacrifice fly and DeCicco put Binghamton up 2-1 with her solo home run.

After Taylor's homer put the Gaels up 4-2, Harbaugh sliced the deficit in half when she scored on a fielding error in the bottom of the fifth inning.

Sheeran then gave Iona the breathing room it needed with her home run to lead off top of the seventh inning. The Bearcats left the tying run at the plate when the game ended.

Sophomore pitcher Allison L'Amoreaux took the loss, dropping her record to 7-6.

Binghamton's game against Iona on Sunday has been canceled due to the weather. Binghamton returns to action with a 3 p.m. home doubleheader on Wednesday against Cornell.