LITTLE FALLS, N.J. - Host NJIT (23-25, 11-10 America East) scored seven runs in the seventh inning to erase a 3-0 deficit and pin a 7-4 loss on Binghamton baseball (20-27, 9-13 AE) Thursday night at Yogi Berra Stadium. The Bearcats kept the Highlanders off the board for seven of eight innings but the one exception was the difference. 

The loss, combined with Maine's loss, kept the Bearcats' magic number at one for clinching a playoff spot. Any one Binghamton win or Maine loss in these next two days will advance the Bearcats to the America East tournament, which Binghamton will host regardless beginning next Wednesday.

Senior starter Gabe Driscoll was superb in his final career regular season start and departed with a 3-0 lead in the seventh. But the Highlanders sent 11 to the plate and scored seven runs on six hits and one costly Bearcat error. Driscoll allowed just three hits - only one reached the outfield - over 6.0 innings. He struck out five, lowered his season ERA to 3.26 and only after departing, was saddled with his only run allowed. 

It as a duel between two of the top pitchers in the conference and the Bearcats struck first with two runs in the fourth. Junior second baseman Nick Roselli led off with a single and senior right fielder Mike Gunning hit a double to left center. Junior third baseman Devan Bade scored both on a two-run single to right field to give Binghamton a 2-0 lead. 

Meanwhile, Driscoll set down 13 straight NJIT hitters and the Bearcats added a run in the top of the seventh on two hits. With one out, sophomore shortstop Mike Stellrecht doubled inside the first base bag and senior DH Isaiah Corry singled through the left side. Senior center fielder Tommy Reifler scored Stellrecht with a groundout and the Bearcats extended their lead to 3-0.

But the wheels came off in the bottom of the seventh with two walks and three singles opening up the floodgates. An infield error on a potential double-play ball led to two more runs and by the time the Bearcats got out of the frame, they trailed 7-3.

Binghamton collected two hits in the eighth and scored a run on a two-out RBI single by senior first baseman Andrew Tan, but a double-play grounder stifled the rally. 

Bade went 3-for-4 with 2 RBI and Gunning and Roselli had two hits apiece.

The Bearcats played the game without two injured starters (catcher Zach Rogacki and DH Evin Sullivan) and thus, had to roll out their 46th different lineup in 47 games this season. The onslaught of injuries to starters have added up to 72 man-games lost this season, by far a program record. 

NJIT and Binghamton play the second game of the three-game set at 4 p.m. Friday.