ALBANY, N.Y. – Junior outfielder Sarah Rende homered twice and redshirt junior third baseman smacked a three-run home run, highlighting Binghamton's split in an America East softball doubleheader on Saturday at the Albany Softball Field. The Bearcats (28-11, 10-3 AE) were edged 1-0 in the first game by the Great Danes (20-11, 8-5 AE) but bounced back to win the nightcap 8-2.

Rende and Cavalho hit three of the Bearcats four home runs in the second game against UAlbany. That matches Binghamton's season high for home runs in a game. The Bearcats also homered four times against Cornell back on March 16.

Binghamton's first home run in the second game was hit by freshman catcher Elisa Allen in the top of the second inning. That sliced a 2-0 deficit in half. Three batters later, freshman second baseman Maddy Dodig tied the score with an RBI double.

The following inning, Cavalho blew the game open with her three-run homer, putting the Bearcats up 5-2. Rende then padded the lead to 6-2 with a solo home run in the top of the fourth inning.

The Bearcats got two more insurance runs in the top of the sixth inning. Rende belted her second home run in as many at-bats and Dodig later scored on a fielding error during that frame.

On the mound, sophomore pitcher Olivia Kennedy held the Great Danes to two runs (one earned) on seven hits and struck out five batters to record the complete-game victory. Her record improved to 8-2.

The loss was tagged to Kate Powers, who is now 5-3 this season.

Rende and Dodig each finished with a pair of hits in the win.

In the first game, however, Wendi Hammond of UAlbany fired a three-hit shutout. The only run support she needed came courtesy of a run-scoring triple by Caitlyn Matros in the bottom of the third inning.

The Bearcats had runners on second and third base with one out in the top of the seventh inning. Hammond, however, was able to get out of the jam and lock up the victory. Her record is now 15-7.

Sophomore pitcher Brianna Roberts held UAlbany to one run on four hits through 7.0 innings. Her record, however, fell to 8-6.

Binghamton and UAlbany conclude their conference series with a noon game on Sunday.