Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

NEW PALTZ, N.Y. – The State University of New York at New Paltz softball team (10-14, 4-4 SUNYAC) dropped both games of its State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) doubleheader to Buffalo State on Friday afternoon at Mary Gray Deane Field. The Hawks were defeated in game one by a 10-4 margin before falling to the Bengals in a 9-1, six-inning decision in game two.

Over the course of both games, New Paltz freshman center fielder Shayna Burgess (Smithtown, N.Y./Commack) went 2-for-5 with two runs scored and one walk. Junior shortstop Melissa Liotta (Brentwood, N.Y./St. John the Baptist) batted 3-for-7 and scored one run for the Hawks, while senior first baseman/designated player Cassie Barcavage (Cold Spring, N.Y./Haldane) hit 2-for-4 with a RBI and two walks.

Game one started with three no-hit innings by both sides. Buffalo State struck first by scoring two runs in the top of the fourth inning. Brianna Fenski, who reached on a fielder's choice and advanced on a walk to Aleesha Williams earlier in the inning, scored the first run when Taylor Swiatek's single through the left side proved troublesome to field, as a fielding error gave both Fenski and Williams an extra base. Williams scored in the next at-bat, a Brieanna Brink single, giving the Bengals a 2-0 lead.

The Hawks responded in the bottom of the inning with two runs of their own. Burgess led off the inning with a single to the left side of the infield. After advancing to second base on a ground out, Barra later scored on a single to center field by Barcavage. Barcavage moved to second after freshman second baseman Emily Mouillesseaux (Endicott, N.Y./Union-Endicott) was hit by a pitch. Sophomore Emily Collazo (East Meadow, N.Y./East Meadow) then pinch-ran for Barcavage and scored the game-tying run off a bunt single by junior right fielder Andrea Feeney (Ulster Park, N.Y./Kingston) and the throwing error that ensued in a desperation attempt by the first baseman.

The Bengals took the lead for good in the top of the fifth inning, scoring three runs in a rally that included two run-scoring doubles by Fenski and Marcella Ossa, giving Buffalo State a 5-2 lead.

New Paltz kept the score close with its effort in the bottom of the fifth. Senior left fielder Emily Schork (Warwick, N.Y./Warwick Valley) began the frame with a walk and found herself on third base soon after due to a ground out and wild pitch. Burgess walked to put runners on the corners for senior designated player Samantha Barra (Islip, N.Y./Islip), who hit a RBI single through the right side, scoring Schork. A sacrifice fly to center field by senior third baseman Shelby Martin (New Paltz, N.Y./New Paltz) scored Burgess to lower the deficit to 5-4, but it would be the last run for the Hawks in game one. Buffalo State scored five insurance runs in the top of the sixth frame to put the first contest of the day out of reach.

New Paltz junior starting pitcher Amber Carozza (Milton, N.Y./Marlboro) took the game one loss after going four-and-a-third innings pitched, allowing five hits and four runs (three earned). Freshman Meg Brewer (Bayport, N.Y./Bayport-Blue Point) and junior Alyssa Oliva (Fishkill, N.Y./John Jay) combined to finish the last two-and-two-thirds innings for the Hawks. Williams took the complete-game victory after replacing late-pregame scratch Kaylee Lekki on the mound for the Bengals, giving up six hits and four runs (three earned) while walking four Hawk batters.

In game two, Buffalo State took a 1-0 lead in the second inning with a RBI single by Kara Stein, and did not relinquish control of the game throughout. Two doubles in the top of the third gave the Bengals a 4-0 cushion before the Hawks could notch their first run in the bottom of the frame. In that bottom-half of the inning, Liotta reached on a single to the left side and went to third base on a Burgess single to center field, with Burgess moving to second base on the throw. A sacrifice fly by sophomore first baseman Chelsea Kull (Manorville, N.Y./Eastport South Manor) scored Liotta and gave New Paltz its only run of the game.

Buffalo State would score five more runs in the game, one on a Fenski RBI double in the top of the fifth inning and four on a grand slam by Kyrstin Lekki in the top of the sixth inning, to win the game, 9-1, in six innings.

Carozza, who again started for the Hawks, also took the losing decision in game two after five innings pitched and allowing nine hits and five runs (two earned). She struck out one Bengal hitter while only walking one. Freshman Erika Traina (Bay Shore, N.Y./Bay Shore) pitched the sixth and final inning in relief. Buffalo State's Maddie Coneys earned a six-inning complete game victory, allowing four hits and one run. She walked three Hawk batters and struck out one.

The Hawks return to SUNYAC action tomorrow, Saturday, April 14, when SUNY Fredonia comes to Mary Gray Deane Field for doubleheader action at 12 p.m.