2026 SUNYAC SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT PREVIEW
Thursday, May 7, 2026 - Saturday, May 9, 2026
 
FOLLOW ALONG…
TOURNAMENT HOMEPAGE

FIRST ROUND/SINGLE ELIMINATION: #3 BUFFALO STATE BENGALS VS #6 OSWEGO STATE LAKERS
Thursday, May 7, 2026 – 10 AM
Mary Gray Deane Field – New Paltz, NY
 
THE MATCHUP… Buffalo State enters this year's tournament as the three-seed going 25-11 (12-6 SUNYAC) while Oswego snagged the final postseason spot with a record of 18-8 (11-7 SUNYAC). With new rules in the postseason format from last season, the #3, #4, #5, and #6 seeds will go head-to-head in single elimination with the top two seeds earning a bye into double-elimination the remainder of the tournament. The winner between the Bengals and Lakers will battle Cortland at 3:00 pm on Thursday.

The Bengals and Lakers have split their regular season matchups in each of the last two seasons.
 
LAST GAME OUT… Buffalo State closed out the regular season with a pair of sweeps over Potsdam and Plattsburgh. The Bengals enter the tournament on a six-game win streak, and their best overall regular season record since 2009.
 
POWERHOUSE OFFENSE… Buffalo State's offense has been strong the while year as they sit third as a team in batting average (.337), hits (345), doubles (72), and RBI (345). The Bengals are also tied for second in the conference with 10 triples and sit third with 91 extra base hits. They also scored 255 runs on the year, more than anyone in the SUNYAC, and are one of the top teams on the base paths with 49 stolen bases and just two caught stealing.

PITCHING FACTORY… The Bengals' pitching staff has also been impressive this season with a 2.75 staff ERA, good for second in the conference with 175 strikeouts and a 1.38 WHIP. Izzy Pezdek (Lancaster, NY/Grand Island) has led the way for the Bengals on the mound finishing the regular season 13-4 with a 2.17 ERA and 109 strikeouts across 106.2 innings of work. Opponents are also hitting just .203 off Pezdek as she sits fifth in the conference in ERA and second in both wins and strikeouts.
 
GETTING IT DONE ON BOTH SIDES OF THE PLATE… Pezdek has also been getting it done at the plate for the Bengals hitting .398 with five homers, 28 RBI, and a .667 slugging percentage. She also ended the regular season with at least one hit in 13 of her last 14 games.

SWIPE A BAG… The Bengals have been impressive swiping bases this season. 10 different Bengals have yet to be caught stealing this season while Lexi Quagliana (Williamsville, NY/Williamsville South) is 10-10 and Ashley Jedrich (Victor, NY/Victor) is 14-14 on the year. Quagliana has yet to be thrown out in each of her first three seasons.

A LOOK AT THE LAKERS… The Lakers enter the tournament for the first time since the 2019 season. Oswego won three of their final four regular season games as they swept Morrisville and split with Cortland.

Kira Wright has been outstanding for Oswego this year as she is hitting .432 with seven triples, and a .667 slugging percentage. Emma Budzinski has been the Lakers main power threat with five home runs on the year.

On the mound, Alyssa Budzinksi finished the year 13-3 with a 2.25 ERA and 103 strikeouts over 105.2 innings of work. She also tallied 13 complete games and three shutouts.
 
THE REST OF THE COMPETITION… Rounding out the field, New Paltz earned the right to host as the regular season champs and the top overall seed. Cortland finished as the two-seed with Fredonia and Oneonta claiming the fourth and fifth seeds, respectively. Cortland defeated Oneonta last season in the championship to earn their 17^th conference title in program history. The Bengals have four titles all-time with their last coming back in 2009.