CORTLAND, NY—Fourth-seeded Buffalo State (18-16) managed just three hits and dropped a 3-2 decision against No. 3 Oneonta (25-12) today in the opening day of the double-elimination SUNYAC Championships hosted by Cortland.
 
Stephanie Novo (Cheektowaga/Depew) was 1 for 4 with an RBI, while Joanna Bardak (Amherst/Amherst) was 1 for 3 with a double and a run scored for Buffalo State.  Alison Novak (Amherst/Williamsville North) recorded the loss, pitching 2 2/3 innings, allowing four hits and two runs, before Alexis Haley (Rochester/Aquinas) threw the final 3 1/3 innings, surrendering two hits and one run.
 
Buffalo State's first two batters of the game reached on a pair of Oneonta errors, but the Bengals were unable to plate the opening run.  The Red Dragons' defense settled in from there, and Oneonta took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first on a solo home run over the left field wall.  The Bengals responded in the second to even the score on a two-out RBI single by Novo that scored Haley from third.
 
Oneonta reclaimed the lead with another solo home run in the third to right center, and also scored on a sacrifice fly in the fourth to expand the advantage.  After Bardak doubled and Taylor Swiatek (East Aurora/Orchard Park) walked to lead off the sixth inning, the Bengals scored on an RBI sacrifice bunt by Kate Brownell (Batavia/Oakfield-Alabama), but stranded the potential tying run.  Oneonta retired the side in order in the seventh to secure the victory.
 
Buffalo State will face host and top-seeded Cortland in a potential elimination game tomorrow at 9 a.m.  Cortland defeated No. 6 Fredonia, 15-1, to open the tournament this morning.