Box Score (Game 1)
Box Score (Game 2)

BUFFALO, N.Y. – Senior pitcher/center fielder Jillian Gallagher (Buchanan, N.Y.) went 8-for-9 on the day with three triples, leading the State University of New York at New Paltz softball team (12-16, 4-10 SUNYAC) to a split in a State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) doubleheader against Buffalo State (10-16, 8-6 SUNYAC) on Saturday afternoon at Bengal Field. The Hawks won game one, 5-1, before falling, 7-6, in the nightcap.

Gallagher ignited the Hawk offense in game one, going 5-for-5 at the plate with two triples and two runs scored. On the contest, New Paltz pounded out 16 hits, while Buffalo State recorded seven.

Gallagher scored on a wild pitch in the top of the first, and junior first baseman Cassie Barcavage (Cold Spring, N.Y.) and junior catcher Jenna Curcio (Conklin, N.Y.) each drove in runs later on in the inning to give the Hawks a 3-0 lead. Gallagher tripled again in the fourth, and she came home via a sophomore shortstop Melissa Liotta (Brentwood, N.Y.) single to right. In the sixth, junior third baseman Samantha Barra (Islip, N.Y.) pushed the score out to 5-0 in favor of New Paltz with a single to third.

Buffalo State got one back in the home half of the sixth with a Krista Baker sacrifice fly, but the Bengals were unable to get any closer the remainder of the contest.

Senior pitcher Courtney Costello (Bayport, N.Y.) hurled a complete game in the circle for the Hawks, scattering seven hits and allowing one run in the winning effort. Kaylee Lekki was tagged with the loss, throwing just one-third of an inning. She gave up three runs off five hits. Aleesha Williams surrendered the final two runs in relief, working 6 2/3 innings. She gave up 11 hits, struck out three and walked two.

Beyond Gallagher, Liotta, Barra and junior left fielder Kristen Schork (Warwick, N.Y.) all had multi-hit performances for New Paltz. Liotta went 3-for-5 with an RBI, Barra batted 3-for-4 with two RBI and Schork went 2-for-4 with two runs scored. Buffalo State's Sara Morse and Williams each batted 2-for-3.

The Bengals scored six runs off seven hits and an error in the third in the back end of the doubleheader, which wound up being the difference.

Gallagher drove in Curcio in the third to put the Hawks on the board, but Buffalo State answered with a six-run explosion in the home half of the frame.

Barra homered in the fourth, while a Gallagher triple sparked a three-run fifth. After she hit a triple and scored on a wild pitch, a fly out to center brought up Barcavage. Barcavage then singled down the right-field line, pushing across two runners and bringing the Hawks within one at 6-5.

Julie Joyce stole home in the bottom of the fifth to give the Bengals a two-run cushion, and freshman right fielder/pitcher Emily Frawley (White Plains, N.Y.) scored on a wild pitch in the top of the sixth to draw New Paltz back within one. With the game-tying run on second in the top half of the seventh, Buffalo State retired the ensuing three batters in order to salvage the split.

It was a pitcher by committee for New Paltz in game two, as three different pitchers took to the circle donning the blue and orange. Gallagher drew the start and lasted two innings, giving up five runs—four of which were earned—off five hits while issuing one walk. Due to allowing the go-ahead run, Gallagher was charged with the loss. Frawley threw one-third of an inning and gave up one run off three hits, while sophomore pitcher Gillian Davidoff (Oceanside, N.Y.) permitted one run off four hits and two walks in 3 2/3 frames of work.

For Buffalo State, Sam Tilkens picked up the win, yielding five runs off eight hits and three walks while striking out three. Williams picked up the save, going two innings in relief. She surrendered one run off three hits and struck out three.

Gallagher batted 3-for-4 in the nightcap with a triple, a run scored and an RBI, while Barra (2-for-4, one run, one RBI) and Frawley (2-for-3, one run) also had multi-hit performances for New Paltz. Buffalo State's offense was charged by Morse, Krista Baker and Williams, all of whom went 2-for-4.

New Paltz hosts four games in five days next week. The Hawks start the week off with a non-league doubleheader on Tuesday, April 26, entertaining Union (N.Y.) College at 3 p.m.