ALBANY, N.Y. (Interstat) — Conner Griffin fired five perfect innings and the Binghamton Bearcats erupted for 12 runs on just eight hits Friday afternoon to rout the Albany Great Danes 12-2 in an America East Conference game at Varsity Field.

Griffin, a right-handed pitcher, struck out seven and did not allow a baserunner over five innings, retiring all 15 batters he faced. He threw 5.0 innings of no-hit ball with zero earned runs, lowering his ERA after a May 2 win over Maine in which he allowed one earned run over five innings. Jake Dally followed with two innings of scoreless relief, striking out two, and Vincent Luther closed with a perfect ninth inning, recording one strikeout.

Binghamton’s offense gave Griffin early support. In the top of the first inning, center fielder Matt Bolton doubled down the left-field line to score Sean Sweeney, who had walked, and later scored on a balk to make it 2-0. Designated hitter Zachary Anderson led off the second inning with a solo home run to left-center, extending the lead to 3-0.

The Bearcats broke the game open in the seventh inning. After a sacrifice bunt and a single, Sweeney walked to load the bases. Bolton lifted a sacrifice fly to center field, scoring Mike Stellrecht. Catcher Tommy Popoff then launched a three-run home run to left, scoring Sweeney and Braylen Gonzalez, making it 7-0.

Binghamton added five more runs in the eighth inning, capitalizing on walks, a hit batter, a fielder’s choice, a wild pitch and singles by Sweeney and Bolton. Sweeney drove in a run with a single to left-center, and Bolton followed with an RBI single through the right side. Two wild pitches allowed additional runs, pushing the lead to 12-0.

Albany’s only runs came in the bottom of the eighth inning. The Great Danes loaded the bases on a walk, a single and a hit by pitch, and Tre Mariano walked to force in a run. Brian Guerrero was hit by a pitch to bring home another run, cutting the deficit to 12-2. Luther entered and ended the threat by inducing a double play.

Albany starter Ethan Nardacci took the loss, allowing four hits and three earned runs over four innings with three strikeouts. Second baseman Patrick DeSarno doubled for Albany and finished 1-for-2. Catcher Tommy Popoff went 1-for-5 for Binghamton with the home run and three RBIs. Bolton was 2-for-3 with three RBIs. Sweeney went 1-for-3 with an RBI and a walk. Anderson finished 1-for-3 with a home run and an RBI.

The win improved Binghamton’s overall record to 25-18, while Albany fell to 13-27. The teams are scheduled to meet again Saturday and Sunday at Varsity Field to conclude the three-game series. Binghamton’s next home series after that is against Massachusetts-Lowell on May 14-16, while Albany travels to Maine on May 14.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Binghamton 5, Albany 3, and the Interstat ELO system had given Binghamton a 65.80 percent probability of winning Friday’s contest.