ORONO, Maine – Binghamton (15-19, 2-6 AE) split an America East doubleheader against Maine (7-30, 3-7 AE) on Saturday afternoon at Kessock Field. The Bearcats took the first game 3-1 but lost the finale 3-1.

In an afternoon that only featured 18 total hits, the Bearcats were led by senior infielders Alli Richmond and Makayla Alvarez. Richmond went 2-for-6 (.333) with a double, triple and a run scored. Alvarez, meanwhile, finished 2-for-5 with a double and an RBI.

On the mound, graduate student pitcher Chelsea Howard and senior pitcher Sophia Howard combined to win the first game. Pappas also added an RBI at the plate in the victory.

Richmond belted a leadoff triple in the top of the fourth inning of the first game. She took advantage of a Black Bear error one batter later to put the Bearcats up 1-0. In the bottom of the same inning, however, Maine used two Binghamton errors to plate the tying run.

In the top of the sixth inning, Alvarez was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded as the Bearcats reclaimed a 2-1 lead. One batter later, Pappas had an RBI groundout.

Howard, who departed after the fifth inning, held Maine to one unearned run and five hits. Her record is now 6-8.

Pappas limited the Black Bears to just one hit over the final two innings to nail down her second save of the season.

Taking the loss for Maine was Emily Reid, whose record dropped to 2-10.

Miscues continued to play a role in the second game, as Maine took advantage of two Bearcat errors in the bottom of the first inning. They plated the only three runs of the game during that frame.

Sophomore pitcher Allison L'Amoreaux held the Black Bears scoreless over the ensuing four innings. She went five innings total, allowing only two earned runs and striking out three batters. Her record fell, however, to 7-9.

Pappas came in to pitch a scoreless sixth inning.

Caitlyn Fallon tossed a four-hit shutout, striking out five batters in the process, to improve to 3-2.

"We bared down in Game One and found a way to get the W," head coach Jess Bump said. "Early mistakes didn't help us in Game Two and we need to continue to work hard for good at-bats throughout the game."

Three of the hits Binghamton pounded out in the second game were doubles, including Richmond's team-best 13^th of the season.

Binghamton and Maine conclude their conference series with an 11 a.m. game on Sunday.

"Tomorrow is a big game for us," Bump said. "We have to find a way to get some momentum into the final third of the season."