(BOX SCORE vs. FREDONIA)
(BOX SCORE vs. CORTLAND)

CORTLAND, NY—Buffalo State (17-20) found itself on opposite side of a pair of lopsided decisions today, but stayed alive for another day at the double-elimination SUNYAC Championships in Cortland. The Bengals pounded Fredonia (26-8) in the day's first game, 7-0, but fell 9-1 in six innings against top-seeded Cortland (35-3-1) in the late game.

Freshman Aleesha Williams (Cheektowaga/Pioneer) cruised on the mound against Fredonia, firing a two-hitter and only allowed one base runner past second base all game. Seven different Bengals had one hit each, including a solo-home run by Sara Morse (Painted Post/Corning West). Sam Strapason (Williamsville/Williamsville North) finished 1 for 3 with a double and two RBIs.

Strapason hit an RBI double in the third that scored Lekki to open the scoring, and then Morse blasted a solo-homer in the fifth to push the lead to 2-0. Buffalo State blew the game open, converting three hits and two Blue Devil errors into five runs to put the game out of reach.

Cortland ended the late game with a three-run home run in the bottom of the sixth inning, putting the mercy rule into effect. The Red Dragons scored twice in the second inning and then added seven more runs over the final three innings, including four in the sixth without making an out. Buffalo State's only run came on an RBI double by Williams in the top of the sixth.

Strapason collected two of Buffalo State's five hits in the game, finishing 2 for 3. Kaylee Lekki (N. Tonawanda/Niagara-Wheatfield) suffered the loss, allowing 14 hits and seven earned runs.

Cortland eliminated Geneseo in the day's opening game, winning 9-1 in five innings. Plattsburgh knocked Fredonia out of the tourney with a 1-0 win in the third game of the day.

Buffalo State will play Plattsburgh tomorrow at 11 a.m. The winner will advance to the finals and will need to beat Cortland twice. The first game of the finals will be tomorrow at 1:30 p.m. and if necessary, the deciding game will be Sunday at noon.