The Binghamton University baseball team started its season with a 4-0 win over host James Madison in Harrisonburg, Va. on Saturday before dropping a doubleheader to JMU on Sunday.

Zach Groh, BU’s winningest pitcher last season, allowed three hits in five innings Friday without his best stuff.

“We come to have a certain level of expectations for Zach which are really unfair, he really didn’t have his best stuff and he’d be first to tell you that,” said Binghamton head coach Tim Sinicki. “And I guess what makes him so special is that he finds a way to keep you in the ball game and he finds a way to be successful.”

Gio Yannuzzi relieved Groh with four innings of three-hit ball to lock up the nine-inning win. The Bearcats (1-2) scored all of their runs in the first inning.

The Dukes (2-1) won 8-7 and 3-1 on Sunday. Binghamton’s Kyle Klee led off the seventh and final inning of the first game with a double, putting the Bearcats in good position to break a 7-7 tie, but Klee was stranded after a sacrifice fly and two strikeouts. JMU finally got to Bearcats reliever Greg Lane in the bottom of the inning.

“With a team as young as we are I’m hoping that by the time we get to a third of the way into the season or at least into conference play where we’re in those situations that we have a chance to win or take a lead, we’ll be able to deliver when we need to,” Sinicki said.

Klee was 5-for-8 on the day.

James Madison starting pitcher Kyle Hoffman went seven innings and held the Bearcats scoreless for six innings in the nightcap. He struck out six in the nine-inning affair.

DUNN FOR THE SEASON?: Bearcats sophomore center fielder Henry Dunn, a Collegiate Baseball Newspaper All-American last season, did not play over the weekend and may not play this season.

Dunn, who batted .277 last season, is having academic issues and may redshirt if it is not sorted out. Sinicki said he does not know when a decision will be made.

SOFTBALL

Cyrilla Suker ensured the BU softball team wouldn’t leave the Elon Invitational winless Sunday in the final game of the four-team Elon Tournament in Elon, N.C.

Suker allowed seven hits and struck out three to push the Bearcats (1-3) past Georgetown, 5-3. James Madison defeated Binghamton 15-1 earlier in the day, while BU fell to host Elon, 5-1 and Georgetown, 1-0 on Saturday.

Check Pipe Dream during the next two weeks for season previews of both the baseball and softball teams.