Propelled by Kyle Klee’s two-run home run, the Binghamton University baseball team finally won comfortably Sunday.
The Bearcats (3-7) defeated host Longwood, 8-3, in Farmville, Va., after dropping two one-run games to the Lancers (6-4) on Saturday, 6-5 and 4-3.
“We just played so many close games and we really needed to win big,” Klee said.
Klee homered to left field on a 3-1 hanging slider from Longwood reliever Luke Townsend in the fifth inning to put the Bearcats ahead 6-0. Klee also had an RBI single in the first. Ryan James went 3-for-4 and drove in two runs.
Lancers starter John Farrell was pulled after allowing four runs on seven hits in three innings.
Despite its record, Binghamton has stayed in close in most of its games — five of its losses have come by two runs or less — thanks to its starting pitching. Murphy Smith (1-1) allowed one run on five hits and struck out seven innings Sunday to earn his first win of the season, following strong performances from Zach Groh and Jeff Dennis on Saturday.
“[Murphy] was buried a little bit last year because we had such good starting pitching, he didn’t have a lot of opportunities,” said BU head coach Tim Sinicki. “He’s going to be one of our conference starters and he’s continuing to build on good outings.”
Groh (1-1), who received a no-decision, struck out seven over six shutout innings and left with a 5-0 lead in the first game, but Binghamton’s defense unraveled behind reliever Greg Lane in the seventh.
Errors from Klee at shortstop and James at third base led to six runs on four hits for Longwood. None of the runs were earned.
“It’s early in the season, we don’t get any practices outside,” Klee said. “As shortstop I get the most chances and I’m going to make errors. I realize that and just have to forget about that when it happens.”
Longwood reliever Harting (2-0) earned the win with 2 2/3 shutout innings in relief. He struck out four.
Klee has committed a team-high six errors, but also leads the team in nearly every offensive category, including average (.324), home runs (2) and RBI (7).
“I’ve felt real comfortable from my very first at-bat this season,” he said. “Just hope it keeps going well.”
Jeff Dennis (0-1) allowed three earned runs in six innings in Saturday’s nightcap, but was out-dueled by Lancers starter John Walker II (1-1), who allowed eight hits for the complete-game win.
Binghamton’s 3-0 lead was erased by Longwood’s four-run third. Jon Quigley, Phil Cerreto and David Smiy Jr., Longwood’s 4-5-6 hitters, each drove in a run. Quigley went 3-for-6 with two walks on the day.
The Bearcats had a rough start to the month, with three losses in four games from Feb. 29 to March 2. Binghamton dropped two of three to Virginia Military Institute and fell to Virginia Tech, 12-1.