CLERMONT, Fla. – Buffalo State (2-2) opened up day two of its annual spring trip with an 8-4 victory over Allegheny (3-5), but was topped 14-3 against No. 7 Luther (18-0) in game two at John Hancock Park.
Megan Mingle's (Williamsville, NY/Williamsville South) double to the gap in right center field put the Bengals up 2-0 in the bottom of the second. Stephanie Novo (Cheektowaga, NY/Depew) followed right behind with another double to the same exact spot and gave Buffalo State a 4-0 lead. In the bottom of the third, Danielle Szymkowiak (Cheektowaga, NY/Cheektowaga) outran a tag from the pitcher to help score Nicole Adams (Lockport, NY/Starpoint). Later in the inning, Jenna Clarke (Brockport, NY/Brockport) tallied an RBI to put the Bengals up 6-0. The Gators managed to get on the board in the top of the fourth inning, cutting the Buffalo State lead to four runs. Sarah Gorski (Cheektowaga, NY/Depew) singled to center field in the bottom of the same inning to push the Bengals back out to a five run lead. Allegheny added two more runs in the fifth, but Buffalo State held them scoreless in the final two innings to seal the win.
Both teams finished the game with seven hits and the Bengals recorded one error.
Szymkowiak finished the game 1 for 2 with two runs and an RBI, while Mingle finished 1 for 2 also with one run and two RBI's. Novo finished the game 1 for 3 with a run and two RBI's. Gorski also finished 1 for 3 and tallied one run and one RBI.
Alison Novak (Amherst, NY/Williamsville North) tallied her first win of the season in the circle. The sophomore pitched 3.2 innings in relief, allowing three runs on five hits with one walk and three strikeouts. Maddie Coneys' (Clifton Park, NY/Catholic Central) started the first 3.1 innings, recording one run on two hits and one walk.
Buffalo State started out strong and hung with No. 7 Luther for the first three innings of game two. A rip up the middle of the field quickly put the Norse up 2-0. The Bengals, however, held Luther hitless in the top of the second and answered in the bottom of the inning to tie things up. Kate Brownell (Batavia, NY/Oakfield-Alabama) took advantage of a throwing error from the Norse catcher to give Buffalo State its first run. Chrissy Rennard (Brockport, NY/Brockport) singled two batters later to bring Taylor Swiatek (East Aurora, NY/Orchard Park) home and tie the game 2-2. In the third, Luther added another two runs to regain the lead. Brownell hit a single just in front of the right fielder to cut Luther's lead down to one run in the bottom of the third, but it would be the last run the Bengals would record. The Norse bats came alive in the fourth inning. Luther recorded 10 runs on six hits and took advantage of two Bengal errors to go up 14-3. In the final two innings, Luther held Buffalo State scoreless with just one hit to close out the game.
Brownell finished the game 2 for 2 with one run and one RBI, while Gorski went 1 for 3 with a run.
Alexis Haley (Rochester, NY/Aquinas) recorded the loss in the circle. She pitched the first 3.1 innings of the game, allowing ten runs on nine hits. Jordan Sarat (Caledonia, NY/Caledonia-Mumford) came in for relief, allowing four runs on one hit. Novak finished the game for the Bengals, pitching 1.2 innings and allowing just one hit.
Buffalo State will play two more games tomorrow afternoon, facing Middlebury at 1 p.m. and Lawrence at 3 p.m.
