POTSDAM, N.Y.—Buffalo State (20-8, 9-1 SUNYAC) took both ends of a doubleheader from the SUNY Potsdam softball team (6-22, 2-8) on Saturday afternoon. The Bengals won game one 9-2 and blanked the Bears 10-0 in game two.
Potsdam started quickly in game one. Junior catcher
Kelsey Bennett (Hammond, N.Y./Hammond) scored on an error to put Potsdam up 1-0. Junior third baseman
Rebecca Holmes (Lawtons, N.Y./North Collins) then knocked in sophomore shortstop
Kaylee Dobransky (New Britain, Conn./CREC Academy of Science & Innovation) with a sacrifice fly and the Bears led 2-0 after one.
It was all Bengals after that. Graduate student Oriana Castello (Pearl River, N.Y./Nanuet) closed the gap to 2-1 with an RBI single in the second. An RBI single from junior first baseman Caitlyn Parsons (Webster, N.Y./Webster Thomas) tied the game and a sacrifice fly from sophomore right fielder Sydney Shuta (Newburgh, N.Y./Marlboro) made it 3-2 Buffalo State and they never relinquished the lead.
The Bengals tacked on three more in the top of the fourth on three hits. A two-run fifth gave Buffalo State a commanding 8-2 advantage. They added a final run in the top of the seventh on an RBI double off the bat of senior second baseman Sydney Bielicki (Orchard Park, N.Y./Orchard Park) to close the scoring at 9-2.
Sophomore pitcher
Lexie Cottrill (Skaneateles, N.Y./Skaneateles) (2-7) allowed nine runs, six earned, on 14 hits in seven innings. Freshman pitcher Madison Lucas (Oakdale, Pa./West Allegheny) (12-3) allowed just an earned run on six hits, while striking out three and going the distance for Buffalo State.
Dobransky was 2-for-3 with a run for the Bears. Senior left fielder
Chesnie York (Corinth, N.Y./Corinth) was 2-for-4, while Holmes and sophomore centerfielder
Danielle Moscarello (Arlington, Vt./Mount Anthony Union) each had a hit.
Bielicki finished 3-for-4 with two runs and an RBI for the Bengals. Graduate student third baseman Kayla Wolinski (Lancaster, N.Y./Lancaster) went 3-for-5 with two runs as was Parsons with a run and two RBI. Sophomore shortstop Sarah Congelosi (Montgomery, N.Y./Valley Central) was 2-for-4 with a run and an RBI.
It was all Bengals in game two. Shuta drove in two in the top of the second with a single to right to open the scoring. Buffalo State broke the game open with a six-run fourth. The Bengals registered six hits in the inning. Castello and Congelosi each had two-run singles. Buffalo State then added two runs in the sixth on RBI singles from junior second baseman Sam Shafer (Depew, N.Y./Lancaster) and sophomore pinch hitter Meghan Baio (Youngstown, N.Y./Lewiston-Porter).
Bears graduate student pitcher
Sierra Ashley (Ogdensburg, N.Y./Lisbon) (0-2) allowed five earned runs on 13 hits. Freshman Kaitlyn Schnitzter (Lancaster, N.Y./Lancaster) (8-3) pitched a four-hit shutout for Buffalo State, striking out two.
Bennett was 2-for-3 for the Bears. Congelosi was 2-for-3 with two RBI for the Bengals. Wolinski was 2-for-3 with a run and an RBI. Shuta was 1-for-2 with run and two RBI and Castello was 1-for-3 with a run and two RBI.
Between contests, Potsdam honored seniors York, Ashley and first baseman
Anna Grottola (Ronkonkoma, N.Y./Connetquot) for their careers on Senior Day.
The Bears are back in action on Monday, when they travel to Cazenovia College for a double header with the Wildcats beginning at 3 p.m.
