The Binghamton softball team traveled to Norfolk, Va., this past weekend to take part in the Dixie Classic. Binghamton played games against Cornell, Niagara, Marist, Norfolk State and Delaware, and the weekend also saw the team’s first wins under new head coach Ali Brian.

After a disappointing first day of the tournament, which included losses to Marist and Norfolk State, the first wins of the Ali Brian era came over Delaware on Saturday and Niagara on Sunday. The Bearcats opened up a double-header Sunday with a loss to the Purple Eagles in the first game, followed by a 16-0 thumping in a game called after five innings for domination. The win over Niagara produced the highest run total in a Bearcat softball game since 2004’s 17-0 Binghamton victory over the University of Maryland-Eastern Shores.

The Bearcats broke open the 16-0 slug fest with a 13-run, 10-hit second inning. When that inning was over, the Purple Eagles found themselves in a 13-0 hole that they would never recover from. Third baseman Mia Bieman had two home runs, including a grand slam to lead the Bearcats. Bieman had three hits, as did senior catcher Christina Quijano.

Sophomore Cyrilla Suker tossed a three-hit shutout over five innings for the Bearcats, and registered 12 strikeouts.

Suker picked up both wins for the weekend, as she also threw a complete game three-hitter against Delaware, allowing one unearned run.

Against Delaware, senior outfielder Sara Eppolito drove in a pair of runs to lead the Bearcats.

After only putting up three runs the previous weekend in a tournament at East Carolina, the bats came alive in Virginia Beach. Mia Bieman led the way, batting .444 with seven RBI on the weekend.

After entering the weekend 0-5, things have started to come together for the Bearcats. Coming off their dismal showing the previous weekend, Binghamton increased its run total on the season from three to 30, and now sits at 2-9 with two weeks to go until conference play.

The Bearcats travel to Columbus, Ohio, this weekend for the Buckeyes Invitational, where they hope to inch closer to .500. The team opens the weekend with a double-header against Oakland, sandwiched around games versus Ohio State.

The host Buckeyes (12-10) are coming off a victory over UMass in their last game. Oakland is 5-11, but has won two out of its last three contests.