RICHMOND, Va. (Interstat) — Joey Giordano struck out 12 over seven dominant innings and the Richmond Spiders’ offense erupted early to power past the Binghamton Bearcats 8-1 in college baseball on Saturday afternoon at Malcolm U. Pitt Field.

The game, which concluded under the lights of an evening start, was a stark reversal from the series opener a day prior, as Richmond evened the three-game set and improved its season record to 9-6. Binghamton fell to 3-8.

The most important part of the game unfolded immediately, as the Spiders ambushed Binghamton starter Brady Bouchard in the bottom of the first inning. Richmond sent eight batters to the plate, scoring three runs on four hits and capitalizing on a critical error. Evan Wilson and Dylan Winebrenner led off with singles, and Michael Elko drove in Wilson with a single to center. After a flyout, RJ Johnson Jr. singled home Winebrenner. The inning continued when Bouchard’s errant pickoff attempt allowed Elko to score, staking Richmond to a 3-0 lead before Binghamton could record a second hit in the game.

That cushion was more than enough for Giordano. The Richmond ace was in complete command, allowing only one hit—a solo home run to Steven Kraus in the seventh inning—and one earned run while walking none. He set the tone by striking out the side in order in the third inning and recorded at least one strikeout in every inning he worked. His 12-strikeout performance followed a solid outing against Cornell on Feb. 28, where he went six innings with seven strikeouts.

Richmond broke the game open with a three-run fourth inning, chasing Bouchard. After RJ Rickabaugh doubled and Chris Schaller bunted for a single, Wilson delivered a two-run single to right field. Mason Holloway relieved Bouchard but allowed an RBI single to Elko, extending the lead to 6-0. Bouchard was charged with six earned runs over 3 1/3 innings.

The Spiders added two unearned runs in the seventh against Binghamton reliever Ryan Bates, courtesy of an RBI double by Ryan Recio and a wild pitch. Richmond finished with 12 hits, led by Wilson, who went 3 for 4 with two RBIs and two runs scored. Elko also had three hits and two RBIs, while Schaller added two hits and two stolen bases.

Binghamton’s offense was stifled, managing just two singles—the Kraus homer and an eighth-inning single by Tim Hennig off reliever Chase Topolski. Following Giordano, Topolski closed the game with two scoreless innings, allowing one hit and striking out two.

For Binghamton, Holloway and Bates provided scoreless relief outings. Holloway threw 2 1/3 hitless innings with one strikeout, and Bates pitched two innings, allowing no hits and one unearned run.

The victory defied pregame projections from Interstat, whose game simulator had predicted a 7-2 Richmond win and whose ELO system gave the Spiders a 54.3% probability of victory.

The teams will conclude the series on Sunday. Binghamton will look to salvage the split before returning home to host Saint Bonaventure on Tuesday. Richmond will aim for the series win before a Tuesday home game against Coppin State.