PHOENIX, Ariz. – Graduate pitcher Chelsea Howard tossed a complete-game victory while senior designated player Sophia Pappas and freshman outfielder Sarah Rende homered, highlighting Binghamton's split in the second day of the Grand Canyon Softball Tournament on Saturday. The Bearcats (7-7) lost 5-3 to San Jose State (11-7) in the opener but rebounded with a 2-1 win over Grand Canyon (15-4) in the nightcap.

Howard, who is now 3-3 for the season, scattered one run on three hits against Grand Canyon, did not issue a walk and struck out three batters. She has now won two out of her last three starts.

Rende homered for the second time in as many days while Pappas clubbed her third homer of the season. Pappas is now tied for the team lead in both home runs and RBI (seven).

Freshman outfielder Alayna Harbaugh, meanwhile, hit a team-best .500 (4-for-8) during the day. She drove in the game-winning run against Grand Canyon and is now hitting a team-best .395 so far this season.

Rende homered in the top of the second inning against Grand Canyon, staking the Bearcats to an early 1-0 lead. The Lopes tied the game in the bottom of the sixth inning but Harbaugh singled home the go-ahead run in the top of the seventh inning.

Howard then closed the game by retiring the side in the bottom of the seventh inning. Her performance was all the more impressive because the Lopes came into the weekend ranked No. 10 in the nation with a .348 batting average.

"What an all around team win for us against Grand Canyon," head coach Jessica Bump said. "We played a clean game defensively and came up with some big plays when we needed them. Chelsea got into a really good rhythm and kept one of the nations best offensive teams at bay for the full seven innings. We made really great adjustments from yesterday to today offensively and I am super proud of our composure and competitiveness."

Kaila Eastburn of Grand Canyon was tagged with the loss, dropping her record to 1-1.

Senior second baseman Alli Richmond was 2-for-4 with a double against the Lopes. She continues to average 0.50 doubles per game, which was tied for No, 19 in the nation heading into the weekend. She is batting .364 so far this season.

In the opener, it was a pair of two-run home runs by Jenessa Ullegue that powered San Jose State to the victory. Her first home run in the bottom of the first inning gave the Spartans a 2-0 lead and her second one broke a 3-3 tie in the bottom of the fifth inning.

Pappas had tied the game at 3-3 with a solo home run in the top of the fifth inning. The Bearcats' other two runs came in the top of the second inning when sophomore third baseman Shelby Carvalho singled home a run and sophomore pitcher Allison L'Amoreaux scored on an error.

On the mound, Lacie Ham improved to 3-3 while L'Amoreaux's record dropped to 4-3.

Senior outfielder Chloe Morgan went 2-for-4 against San Jose State.

Binghamton wraps up its run at the Grand Canyon Tournament with an 11 a.m. EST game against Montana on Sunday.