ALBANY (Interstat) — Longwood rallied from a seven-run deficit to defeat Binghamton 9-7 on Sunday afternoon at Varsity Field, scoring five runs over the final three innings to secure a series split.

The Bearcats took command early, scoring three runs in the bottom of the first inning. Braylen Gonzalez walked and moved to third on a hit by Sean Sweeney, then Matt Bolton walked to load the bases. Steven Kraus reached on a fielder’s choice, but Bolton was erased at second. Tommy Popoff singled to center field, and a fielding error allowed two runs to score. Zach Anderson followed with an RBI single to make it 3-0.

Binghamton added a run in the second on a single by Kraus, and Bolton’s three-run homer in the fourth inning stretched the lead to 7-0. Bolton finished 1 for 3 with three RBIs.

Longwood began its comeback in the fifth. Tyler Bruggeman doubled and Max Lawson singled before Tre Keels was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Jae’dan Carter cleared them with a double to right center, scoring three runs. Ben Pulliam’s groundout brought home Carter, cutting the deficit to 7-4.

The Lancers chipped away in the seventh. Keels was hit by a pitch, moved to second on a wild pitch and scored on Carter’s single. Carter later scored on a bases-loaded walk by Mac Tufts, making it 7-6.

Longwood took its first lead in the ninth. Jon Howard walked and advanced to third on Pulliam’s double. Jack McMullan singled up the middle to drive in both runners, giving the Lancers an 8-7 advantage. Ben Yeatts singled, and Tufts’ single to center field scored Yeatts for a 9-7 lead.

Closer JR Fordham retired all nine batters he faced over the final three innings, striking out five and allowing no hits or walks. He earned the win after throwing three perfect innings. Fordham had not allowed an earned run in his previous three outings covering 3 2/3 innings.

Carter paced the Longwood offense, going 2 for 5 with four RBIs. Pulliam added two hits and an RBI, and Keels reached base three times with two doubles and two hit by pitches. Mac Tufts drove in two runs.

For Binghamton, Popoff went 2 for 2 with a walk and an RBI. Pitcher Mason Holloway took the loss, allowing four earned runs on six hits over four innings with six strikeouts.

Longwood improved to 26-17, while Binghamton fell to 22-16. The teams split a doubleheader Friday, with Binghamton winning 10-8 in the opener before Longwood took the nightcap 7-3. The Lancers travel to Virginia Military Institute on Tuesday, while the Bearcats visit Le Moyne that same day.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Binghamton 7, Longwood 6, and its ELO system gave Binghamton a 65.80 percent probability to win.