ALBANY, N.Y. (Interstat) — Binghamton used a two-run eighth inning and a strong relief outing from Brady Lesiak to defeat Maine 7-3 on Saturday afternoon at Varsity Field in an America East matchup.

The Bearcats improved to 31-20 overall, while the Black Bears fell to 23-32.

Lesiak entered in the third inning and was the game’s top performer, throwing 3.1 innings of one-hit, scoreless relief with two strikeouts. He inherited a 3-3 tie after Maine’s Brody Rasmussen hit a solo home run in the top of the third, but Lesiak did not allow a run over the next four batters he faced.

Binghamton took the lead for good in the bottom of the third when Matt Bolton hit a two-run home run to right field, scoring Sean Sweeney after an error and giving the Bearcats a 5-3 advantage. Bolton finished 3-for-4 with a home run and two RBIs.

Maine threatened in the sixth inning, putting a runner on second with two outs, but Lesiak induced a fielder’s choice to end the inning. The Black Bears managed only four hits total, with Rasmussen’s homer accounting for their only extra-base hit before the ninth.

The decisive moment came in the bottom of the eighth. With the score still 5-3, Binghamton loaded the bases on a single by Steven Kraus, a sacrifice bunt and a walk. Tim Hennig then doubled to right center, driving in two runs and stretching the lead to 7-3.

Hennig went 1-for-4 with two RBIs. Kraus added a solo home run in the second inning and finished 2-for-3 with two runs scored.

Maine rallied in the top of the ninth. Troy Carpenter walked and Nolan DeAndrade doubled him home, then Quinn Murphy singled in DeAndrade to cut the deficit to 7-5, but Binghamton reliever Jake Dally closed the inning by retiring Albert De La Rosa on a flyout. Dally worked three innings, allowing two runs on two hits with one strikeout.

Tommy Martin threw three scoreless innings for Maine, allowing no hits and striking out two. Owen Wheeler struck out four over two innings but was charged with two runs.

Binghamton’s pitching staff combined for nine strikeouts, while Maine pitchers struck out seven.

The game was played at a neutral site in Albany. The Bearcats won the season series against Maine, taking two of three meetings including a 6-5 victory on Friday.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Binghamton 7, Maine 6, and the system gave Binghamton a 61.90 percent probability to win.