If Binghamton University’s two returning aces from last season had any worry that they’d be alone in the rotation this season, it should be gone now.
Sophomore right-hander Murphy Smith held La Salle to just one hit in five innings Saturday at the Villanova Baseball Classic to lock up Binghamton’s first winning weekend of the season and lower his ERA to 2.05, the best mark among Bearcats starters.
“I think it was coach [head coach Tim Sinicki] who said it, we’re still just trying to figure out how to win,” Smith said.
The Bearcats (5-8) fell to Temple, 4-3, Friday in the tournament opener before sweeping La Salle in a doubleheader Saturday with 6-1 and 9-1 wins.
Binghamton’s two veteran hurlers, righty Zach Groh and lefty Jeff Dennis, also turned in strong performances on the weekend.
Groh (1-2) allowed three runs on six hits in six innings in the losing effort against Temple, but was picked up by Dennis (1-1), who held La Salle four hits over seven innings for the win in the first game Saturday. Murphy (2-1) turned in his gem in the nightcap.
Opponents are batting just .192 against Murphy in 22 innings over four starts.
“I attribute [the success] just to a lot of dry work on my mechanics; last year I kind of struggled with my curveball command,” Smith said. “Also gotta thank the offense for putting up some runs; this past weekend the bats were really hot.”
The Bearcats gave Murphy a five-run lead in the first. Left fielder Joe Charron went 5-for-8 with five RBIs Saturday, including a home run and double in the first game. He took over the team lead in batting average of players with more than 40 at-bats, at .333.
Kyle Klee added three hits and three RBIs on the day.
On Friday, senior Owls pitchers Tom Dolan and Arshwin Asjes allowed Binghamton 11 hits and three walks, but managed to minimize the damage every time Binghamton threatened them.
The Bearcats, who trailed 4-2 after four innings, left the bases loaded in the seventh and had two runners on in both the eighth and ninth.
“We had plenty of opportunities to tie and go ahead in that game, [but] just couldn’t get a run in from third base with less than two out and even a clutch two-out hit,” said BU head coach Tim Sinicki. “I think it’s not only just our youth, it’s our inexperience. The guys who are young, they make mistakes that any young kids make, but even the guys who return from last year, they don’t have a tremendous amount of experience.”