POTSDAM, N.Y.—Buffalo State (10-10, 4-0 SUNYAC) defeated the SUNY Potsdam softball team (7-10, 1-3) in both ends of a doubleheader on Friday evening. The Bengals took the opener 3-0 and the finale 15-6.
HOW IT HAPPENED (GAME 1)
- Long balls were the difference in game one.
- Junior leftfielder Mya Hurley (Williamsville, N.Y./Amherst) homered to dead centerfield to open the scoring in the top of the second. Two batters later, sophomore designated player Izzy Pezdek (Lancaster, N.Y./Grand Island) sent a two-run shot over the left center fence to make it 3-0.
- The Bears threatened in the bottom of the fourth, but Bengals junior pitcher Madison Lucas (Oakdale, Pa./West Allegheny) worked out of jam to strand runners at second and third.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS (GAME 1)
- Freshman pitcher Sam Horne (Buffalo, N.Y./Kenmore West) (3-5) allowed three runs on 10 hits and struck out two.
- Graduate student catcher Kelsey Bennett (Hammond, N.Y./Hammond) was 2-for-3 for Potsdam.
- Lucas (3-4) threw a five-hit shutout and struck out six. She was also 2-for-4 at the plate.
- Hurley and Pezdek each finished 2-for-3 for Buffalo State.
HOW IT HAPPENED (GAME 2)
- Buffalo State scored three runs on four hits in the top of the first and added two more in the top of the second.
- Senior pitcher Lexie Cottrill (Skaneateles, N.Y./Skaneateles) drove in Potsdam's first run with a double in the bottom of the second. Bennett followed with another RBI double to make it a 5-2 contest through two innings.
- The Bengals added one in the third, two in the fourth and then broke the game open with seven runs on eight hits in the fifth.
- The Bears scored four times in the bottom of the fifth. Senior centerfielder Kiara Lovejoy (Lansing, N.Y./Lansing) had an RBI single. Horne scored on a double steal and Lovejoy came in on a passed ball. Senior third baseman Kaylee LaForest (Cohoes, N.Y./Cohoes) knocked in the fourth run on a single up the middle.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS (GAME 2)
- Cottrill (4-5) allowed 11 earned runs on 15 hits in the first four innings. Horne allowed four earned runs on five hits in the final inning.
- Bennett was 2-for-3 with a run and an RBI. Lovejoy, LaForest and Cottrill also had a hit and RBI apiece.
- Sophomore pitcher Jean Rogers (Schenectady, N.Y./Mohonasen) allowed two runs on two hits in the first two innings for Buffalo State.
- Pezdek (4-4) picked up the win in relief after throwing two perfect innings.
- Senior pitcher Ella Susi (Lake View, N.Y./Frontier) allowed four runs in a third of an inning.
- Lucas was 2-for-4 with two runs and four RBI.
- Senior catcher Deme Kellogg (Gansevoort, N.Y./South Glens Falls) was 3-for-4 with three runs and three RBI.
- Junior first baseman Erin Paolilli (Poughkeepsie, N.Y./Arlington) was 3-for-3 with two runs and junior centerfielder Grace Albano (North Tonawanda, N.Y./Niagara-Wheatfield) went 3-for-5 with three runs.
WHAT'S NEXT?
The Bears look to bounce back tomorrow when SUNY Fredonia comes to town for two games beginning at noon.