(GAME 1 BOX)
(GAME 2 BOX)

CORTLAND, NY—Buffalo State (28-12) split a pair of games against nationally-ranked No. 8 Cortland (40-5), winning 7-4 and falling 8-6 in 11 innings, today at Red Dragon Field, setting up a “winner-take-all” SUNYAC Championship game tomorrow at noon.

Buffalo State rallied in the opening game for a three-run victory. After trailing 4-3 yesterday before rain hit, the game resumed this morning and the Bengals got a pair of two-run homers Nicole Sabuda (Orchard Park/Orchard Park) and Julie Joyce (E. Pembroke/Pembroke) today to erase the deficit and claim victory. Sabuda and Joyce each finished 2 for 4. Kyrstin Lekki (N. Tonwanda/Niagara-Wheatfield) belted a three-run homerun in the third inning to erase an early two-run deficit. Jenna Frieling (E. Amherst/Williamsville North) allowed just five hits and two earned runs with six strikeouts.

The Bengals had a chance to claim the title in the late game, but after 11 innings and 2 hours and 37 minutes, Cortland escaped with a two-run win to stay alive. Cortland jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first, but the Bengals quickly rallied to lead 5-3. Cortland erased a 6-4 deficit with a two-run homer in the fifth, and then finally completed the scoring with two more in the 11th. Lekki and Sabuda each hit two-run homers for the Bengals. Nicole Maher (Waterloo/Waterloo) was 2 for 5 with a double and an RBI, and Jolene Banach (Cheektowaga/Maryvale) finished 2 for 6 with two doubles and an RBI. Sabuda allowed 10 hits and five earned runs in 6 2/3 innings, and then Frieling came in and suffered the loss, allowing five hits and one earned run in 4 1/3 innings.

Buffalo State and Cortland will square off again tomorrow the SUNYAC Championship and an automatic berth in the NCAA playoffs.