FREDONIA, NY—Buffalo State (17-14/11-7) belted 29 hits and plated 22 runs as it secured a SUNYAC playoff berth with a two-game sweep at Fredonia (13-16/10-8) today to wrap up the conference schedule, winning 8-3 and 14-8.
Stephanie Novo (Cheektowaga/Depew) continued to be the catalyst for the Bengals' offense in the opening game, going 3 for 4 with a double, two RBIs, two runs scored and a stolen base.
Kate Brownell (Batavia/Oakfield-Alabama) added a pair of his, while
Alexis Haley (Rochester/Aquinas) was 1 for 4 with two RBIs.
Haley also picked up her sixth win of the season pitching the final 3 2/3 innings, allowing four hits and just one run.
Maddie Coneys (Clifton Park/Catholic Central) started the game, allowing no runs and three hits in two innings, and
Alison Novak (Amherst/Williamsville North) three 1 1/3 innings of relief, surrendering two hits and two runs (one earned).
Buffalo State jumped out to an early 5-0 lead on the strength of four runs on four hits in the second inning and never looked back. The Blue Devils closed the deficit to 5-2, but a three-run fifth inning put the game out of reach.
Novo continued to solidify her resume as a SUNYAC Player of the Year candidate in the late game, collecting three more hits, including her team-leading eighth home run of the season.
Joanna Bardak (Amherst/Amherst) was 3 for 4 with a triple, Brownell was 3 for 4 with a double, and
Jean Stahl (West Seneca/West Seneca East) was 3 for 4 with a double and 3 RBIs.
Kara Stein (Amherst/Amherst) was 2 for 3 with two RBIs and two runs scored.
Haley earned her second win of the day, improving to 7-7. In the complete-game effort, she allowed 13 hits and six earned runs.
Buffalo State jumped out early again and led 5-2 after three innings, and then blew the game open with seven runs on four hits and two errors in the fourth inning. Fredonia answered with two runs in the fourth and three more in the fifth to keep the game going, before the Bengals coasted to the six-run victory.
Buffalo State will close out the regular season with a non-conference doubleheader tomorrow at Ithaca at 1 p.m. The Bengals will open the SUNYAC Championship on Thursday at top-seeded Cortland. Buffalo State's seeding and opening opponent will be determined by the result of tomorrow's single game between Brockport and Oneonta.