ALBANY (Interstat) — Binghamton Bearcats defeated Longwood Lancers 10-8 in the first game of a doubleheader Friday at Varsity Field.

Jackson Mitchell pitched five innings, allowing five hits and no earned runs while striking out five to earn the win for Binghamton, which improved to 22-15. Longwood dropped to 25-17.

Mitchell’s outing was his second consecutive strong start after he gave up six earned runs in four innings against Bryant on April 18. He allowed three hits and struck out seven in a win over Maryland-Baltimore County on April 12.

Binghamton’s comeback began in the first inning. Sean Sweeney singled, moved to third on a single by Matt Bolton and scored on a single by Tommy Popoff.

Longwood led 2-1 after one inning, but Binghamton tied it in the second. Tim Hennig walked, and Sweeney tripled to right field to drive him in.

The Bearcats took the lead in the fourth. Ian Kaiser was hit by a pitch, Mike Stellrecht doubled and Hennig singled to left field, scoring two runs. Hennig advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on a sacrifice fly by Sweeney, making it 5-2.

Longwood cut the deficit to 5-3 in the sixth when Jon Howard led off with a home run to center field.

The Lancers seized the lead in the seventh. Jayson Nash singled, Bentley Yeatts flied out, and Mac Tufts was hit by a pitch. Tyler Bruggeman singled to load the bases. Tré Keels doubled to right field, scoring Nash and Tufts. Jae’Den Carter followed with a sacrifice fly that scored Bruggeman, putting Longwood up 6-5.

Binghamton answered in the bottom of the seventh. Zach Anderson homered to left field to tie the game. After two strikeouts, Hennig was hit by a pitch, advanced to second and third on wild pitches, and walked Sweeney and Zack Kent to load the bases. Cameron Freeman relieved Joe Gomez and gave up a two-run single to Matt Bolton, scoring Hennig and Sweeney to give Binghamton an 8-6 lead.

Longwood scored twice in the ninth. Bentley Yeatts reached on an error, advanced on a walk to Tufts and scored on a double by Bruggeman. Keels popped out, but Carter walked and Howard singled to drive in Tufts. Lucas Johnson singled to score Bruggeman, and Ben Pulliam’s sacrifice fly brought in Carter, tying the game at 8-8.

Binghamton won in the bottom of the ninth. Tommy Popoff reached on a throwing error, advanced to second on a groundout and to third on a wild pitch. Ian Kaiser and Mike Stellrecht struck out to end the inning.

Bruggeman went 3 for 4 with an RBI for Longwood. Howard was 2 for 5 with a homer and two RBIs. Sweeney went 2 for 2 with two RBIs for Binghamton. Bolton was 2 for 3 with two RBIs. Anderson was 1 for 5 with a homer and an RBI.

Brady Hoover started for Longwood and allowed four earned runs on no hits in 4 1/3 innings with two strikeouts. Freeman pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings with two strikeouts. Ethan Plesser pitched a scoreless inning with one strikeout.

Binghamton’s next game is Sunday against Longwood in the second game of the doubleheader. Longwood travels to Virginia Military Institute on Tuesday.

Interstat’s game simulator projected a final score of Binghamton 7, Longwood 6. Interstat’s ELO system gave Binghamton a 65.60 percent probability to win.