(BOX SCORE vs. PLATTSBURGH)
(BOX SCORE vs. CORTLAND)

CORTLAND, NY—Buffalo State (18-21) stunned No. 20 Plattsburgh (32-8) for the second time in the tournament with a 4-2 win to advance to the SUNYAC Finals today, but ran out of gas, falling to the host team, nationally-ranked No. 9 Cortland (35-3-1), 12-1, in five innings.

Freshman Aleesha Williams (Cheektowaga/Pioneer) picked up her third win of the tournament and Sam Strapason (Williamsville/Williamsville North) drove in all four runs as Buffalo State knocked out second-seeded Plattsburgh with a 4-2 win in the opening game. Williams carried a no-hitter into the bottom of the seventh inning before the lead-off batter broke the shutout with a home run to center field. The Cardinals added two more hits and one run, but Williams got the final two batters to fly out.

Strapason was responsible for all four Bengal runs, blasting a three-run home run over the right field fence in the top of the first inning. She also singled in a run in the third inning. Kyrstin Lekki (N. Tonawanda/Niagara-Wheatfield) was 2 for 2 with two runs scored, and Krista Baker (Dunkirk/Dunkirk) was 1 for 3 with a run scored. Buffalo State finished with just five hits for the game.

Buffalo State entered the championship game needing to beat Cortland twice, but the Red Dragons hit a leadoff homer in the bottom of the first inning and never looked back. Cortland plated three more runs in the first, six in the second and two more in the third before cruising to the win. Buffalo State had just two hits, both in the fourth inning, as Sara Morse (Painted Post/Corning West) doubled and then Strapason drove her in with an RBI single.

Williams could not keep pace on the mound, getting chased after 1 1/3 innings, allowing eight hits and eight runs (seven earned). Kaylee Lekki (N. Tonawanda/Niagara-Wheatfield) came on in relief, surrendering seven hits and four runs in the final 2 2/3 innings.

Williams, Strapason and Kyrstin Lekki represented Buffalo State on the All-Tournament Team.