After splitting a pair of one-run games to open this weekend’s series against UMBC, the Binghamton baseball team surged for six eighth-inning runs in the series finale to capture the rubber match and climb above the .500 mark in America East play.

The Bearcats (19-14, 9-8 America East) won Saturday’s afternoon game 1-0 before dropping Sunday’s doubleheader opener by the same score. Over the weekend’s 25 innings, the BU pitching staff allowed just one run, lowering its league-leading ERA to 3.55.

“[Our pitchers] all have their routines, and I just think that over the course of the season, they get comfortable with what they’re doing,” Binghamton head coach Tim Sinicki said. “It’s a combination of a lot of hard work for those guys and a real commitment to being sharp here at the middle part and towards the end of the year.”

On the other hand, Sinicki said he wished he had some answers for the offense, which has found itself unable to capitalize on its scoring opportunities. The Bearcats scored just one run in the series opener and were shut out in the Game 2 before breaking out for nine runs in the finale.

“We just don’t seem to be swinging the bat all that well,” Sinicki said. “What’s happening right now, I think, is the guys are starting to recognize that, and each one of them is trying to do maybe a little bit too much, and it kind of takes them out of what they’re capable of doing … We’re hoping it’s just something that’s temporary and we’ll break out.”

The series kicked off with a seven-and-a-half-inning stalemate. Sophomore left fielder Jake Thomas, who singled in the fourth and doubled in the seventh, was the only Bearcat to reach base against UMBC junior Mac Gill through seven innings.

But Binghamton strung together three hits in the eighth, and junior center fielder Bill Bereszniewicz drove in senior first baseman Jordon Smucker to break the tie. Bereszniewicz hit a grounder between the pitcher’s mound and first and dove head first into the bag to beat the throw.

Senior pitcher Jake Lambert (4-1) earned the 1-0 win, allowing only two hits while striking out nine in eight innings. He earned America East Pitcher of the Week Honors for his efforts.

Sunday’s opener saw a similar low-scoring game, with the lone run crossing the plate for UMBC early in the second inning. Binghamton managed just four hits and stranded six.

The seventh frame seemed to hold the greatest potential for BU, but with two outs and two on base following a hit batter and a single, junior shortstop John Howell fouled out to end the inning.

Additionally, BU wasted a leadoff single in the second, hit into a double play in the fourth and stranded a runner in scoring position in the fifth.

UMBC’s second-inning run came after a walk and a double that deflected off Bereszniewicz’s glove put runners on second and third. A groundout to second brought in the go-ahead run.

Junior Jack Rogalla (3-3) shouldered the loss, allowing just three hits and striking out seven in as many innings of work.

In the series finale, junior designated hitter Shaun McGraw led off the second with a homer to put Binghamton on the board, and Thomas and junior second baseman Daniel Nevares each drove in a run in the third to push the lead to 3-0.

In the eighth, Thomas was intentionally walked to load the bases, and Nevares responded with a two-run single. Howell then walked to bring in another run, and sophomore catcher Nick Pancerella laced a two-run single to center to make the score 8-0. A Bereszniewicz groundout capped off the scoring.

Nevares finished with three RBI and Pancerella tallied two of his own.

Senior Jay Lynch (4-3) earned the win and lowered his season ERA to 2.06, pitching eight scoreless innings and allowing only one hit. In the past 21 innings, he’s allowed just one earned run.

Thomas continues to lead the nation in on-base percentage, with a .550 clip.

The Bearcats, currently third in the America East, are next scheduled to host a pair of non-conference games against Cornell and Canisius. Sinicki said he still expects the highest possible level of competition from every player despite the games’ non-conference standing.

“What we try to tell our guys, we need to take the mid-week games and treat them serious, and we need to use them to get better and prepare for the conference games on the weekends,” Sinicki said.

The Bearcats are set to take on the Big Red today before facing off against Canisius on Wednesday. Both games are scheduled for 4 p.m. at the Bearcats Sports Complex.