CORTLAND, N.Y.—Buffalo State gave top-seeded Cortland all it could handle, but ran out of gas, falling in the third and deciding game of today's SUNYAC Semifinals. After the Bengals won the opener, 6-3, the host Red Dragons rallied for a walk-off 7-6 win before clinching the series with an 18-6 five-inning victory.
GAME 1 BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Buffalo State – 6, Cortland - 3
LOCATION: Dragon Field - Cortland, N.Y.
RECORDS: Buffalo State (13-12), Cortland (17-8)
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Buffalo State erased a 3-0 deficit with six runs over the final three innings to secure a 6-3 victory in Game 1.
- Freshman Makena Adams (Randolph/Frewsburg) improved to 7-2 with a complete-game win, allowing just seven hits.
- Hannah Kwasniewski (Blasdell/St. Mary's) led the Bengals at the plate, going 3 for 4 with two RBIs and one of six Buffalo State doubles.
- Sydney McIntosh (Buffalo/Kenmore West) was 2 for 3 with an RBI, and Caitlyn Parsons (Webster/Webster Thomas) was 2 for 3 with a double.
- After falling behind 3-0 through four innings, the Bengals responded with three runs on four hits in the fifth inning to even the score.
- Buffalo State took the lead with a pair of runs in the sixth and added an insurance run in the seventh to seal the win.
FOR THE FOES
- Cailey Cuttita was 3 for 3 with an RBI to lead Cortland.
GAME 2 BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Cortland - 7, Buffalo State - 6
LOCATION: Dragon Field - Cortland, N.Y.
RECORDS: Cortland (18-8), Buffalo State (13-13)
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Cortland flipped the script in Game 2, erasing a pair of deficits to stay alive with a 7-6 victory.
- Buffalo State jumped out to a 4-0 lead with a run in the first and three more in the fourth, including a two-run home run by Parsons.
- Cortland finally broke through with a run in the bottom of the fourth and then used a three-run sixth inning to even the score at 4-4.
- The Bengals bounced back in the seventh, however, reclaiming the lead 6-4 on a two-run double by Parsons.
- Playing for its playoff life in the bottom of the seventh, Cortland loaded the bases with one out on two singles and a hit by pitch. Consecutive walks then plated a pair of runs to even the game and the Red Dragons won the game on a sacrifice fly to right field.
- Parsons finished 2 for 4 with four RBIs for Buffalo State, including hitting a two-run double in the seventh inning and a two-run home run in the fourth inning.
- McIntosh was 3 for 3 with an RBI.
- Oriana Castello (Pearl River/Nanuet) was 2 for 4 with a run scored.
- Carli Bogue (Elba/Elba) pitched six innings, allowing four runs on eight hits in the no-decision.
- Adams suffered the loss, being charged with three runs, surrendering two hits and a hit batter in 1/3 of an inning. Olivia Carr (West Falls/East Aurora) finished the game, walking a pair and giving up the sacrifice fly to end the contest.
FOR THE FOES
- Jess Miller drove in five of Cortland's seven runs, including hitting a three-run home run.
- Kelly O'Gorman and Cuttita were both 3 for 4, and Alyssa Finno had the walk-off sacrifice fly.
GAME 3 BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Cortland - 18, Buffalo State – 6 (5 inning)
LOCATION: Dragon Field - Cortland, N.Y.
RECORDS: Cortland (19-8), Buffalo State (13-14)
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Red Dragons converted 20 hits into 18 runs in just four offensive innings to secure the Game 3 victory, 18-6 in five innings.
- Cortland jumped out to a 6-0 lead through two innings, but the Bengals responded with five runs in the top of the third inning.
- The Red Dragons did no slow down, however, scoring seven runs in the bottom of the third to push the lead to 13-5.
- The Bengals scored once more in the fourth, but Cortland put the game out of reach with five more runs in the bottom of the frame.
- McIntosh led the Bengals at the plate, going 2 for 3 with a pair of RBIs.
- Taylor Benton (Niagara Falls/Niagara Wheatfield) was 1 for 2 with a double and two RBIs.
FOR THE FOES
- O'Gorman was 4 for 4 with two doubles, a home run and seven RBIs for Cortland.
- Nine different players had at least one hit, including Cuttita, Miller and Lexi Szesnat with three each.
UP NEXT
Cortland will host Geneseo in the best-of-three SUNYAC Championship next Saturday. Geneseo beat Oneonta in today's other semifinal, 7-6 and 2-1.