UNION, N.J. – After scoring 18 runs in its last outing, Binghamton baseball (19-14, 6-5 America East) was held to three runs in a doubleheader sweep at the hands of host NJIT (15-20, 6-5 AE) Friday afternoon at Jim Hynes Stadium at Kean University. The Highlanders won 1-0 and 4-3 with eighth-inning tiebreaking runs deciding both games.

The opener was a matchup of all-conference pitchers and it didn't disappoint. Senior starter Thomas Babalis scattered five hits in seven scoreless innings. But BU's lineup was held in check, resulting in just the second Bearcat shutout loss of the season, with the first coming against fourth-ranked Wake Forest back in February. Babalis lowered his season ERA to 3.67 (2^nd in America East) in the no-decision.  

NJIT plated the game's lone run in the bottom of the eighth. A bunt single, wild pitch and run-scoring single up the middle ended the extra-inning game. The Bearcats thought they had erased the eventual winning run on a pickoff at second base but despite the throw from sophomore catcher Evin Sullivan arriving well ahead of the runner, the call was safe. The Highlanders then sent a dribbler up the middle and just beat the throw to the plate for the walkoff win.

Sullivan, junior center fielder Tommy Reifler and senior first baseman Kevin Gsell had two hits apiece. The teams had seven hits apiece – all singles.

In Game 2, BU was held to two hits through six innings before tying the game with two runs in the seventh. But with the game tied 3-3, NJIT plated the winning run in the bottom of the eighth without the ball leaving the infield. A leadoff walk, sacrifice, groundout and two-out bunt single on a disputed safe call at first pushed across the pivotal run.

Reifler had two more hits and Sullivan and junior outfielder Mike Gunning drove in runs. The Bearcats had runners on base in six of nine innings but couldn't break through. A 1-2-3 ninth inning ended it. With his four hits Friday, Reifler moved his season average back over the .400 mark (.402) - tops in the entire America East. 

With the pair of setbacks Friday, BU has now lost four of its last five - all by the slimmest of margins. Binghamton has dropped five conference games ... by a total of six runs. 

The teams will try to work around expected rain and finish the weekend with a 7:30 p.m. game Saturday.