Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

BUFFALO – The State University of New York at New Paltz softball team (9-4, 2-0 SUNYAC) opened up State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) play with a pair of wins over Buffalo State (5-7, 0-2 SUNYAC) on Friday afternoon. The Hawks won game one, 3-1, before completing the sweep with a 6-5 victory in the nightcap.

New Paltz scored the first three runs in game one and ultimately held off a Buffalo State rally in the seventh to claim the win.

Senior second baseman Melissa Liotta (Brentwood, N.Y./St. John the Baptist) opened scoring in the third, as she drove in two runs with a single up the middle. In the top of the seventh, sophomore shortstop Emily Mouillesseaux (Endicott, N.Y./Union-Endicott) helped the Hawks break open a 3-0 lead, as she stole home on a double-steal attempt.

Buffalo State's Taylor Swiatek ignited a rally in the seventh, singling through the left side. Brittany Ciaramitaro pinch ran for her and moved to third after back-to-back ground outs. Brieanna Brink plated Ciaramitaro with a single through the right side, and Stephanie Novo singled through the left side to put runners on first and second. The Bengals' next batter grounded out to the second baseman, ending game one.

Sophomore catcher Shayna Burgess (Smithtown, N.Y./Commack) paced the Hawk attack in the first game with a 2-for-4 outing at the plate. Brink batted 2-for-2 with an RBI to lead the Bengals.

Senior pitcher Amber Carozza (Milton, N.Y./Marlboro) earned the win in the circle, scattering seven hits and allowing one run. She also struck out three. Maddie Coneys, who absorbed the loss for Buffalo State, permitted three runs on five hits while striking out four.

Buffalo State struck for two runs in the first inning in game two. Breanna Fenski pushed across Novo for the first run of the game, while Lindsay Goff came through on a bases-loaded single to put the Bengals on top, 2-0.

Sophomore left fielder Noelle Grande (Massapequa Park, N.Y./Massapequa) cut the lead in half with an RBI single to second base in the fourth, and Mouillesseaux scored later on in the inning off a Bengal fielding error. New Paltz swelled the advantage to four in the fifth, with sophomore pitcher/third baseman Meg Brewer (Bayport, N.Y./Bayport-Blue Point) and Burgess each posting a two-run single.

With one out in the sixth, Buffalo State erupted for three runs, but a ground out and a strikeout ultimately ended the rally.

The Hawks kept the Bengals off the board in the seventh, completing the series sweep.

New Paltz's offense in game two was led by Burgess, who went 3-for-4 with two RBI. Novo, Fenski and Brink all boasted multi-hit outings for Buffalo State.

Brewer picked up the game-two victory, allowing two runs and six hits over four innings of work. Freshman pitcher Katie Rutcofsky (Plainview, N.Y./Plainview-Old Bethpage John F. Kennedy) gave up three runs in three frames of relief duty. Buffalo State's Sam Tilkers shouldered the loss, giving up six runs—five of which were earned—off eight hits, three walks and a hit by pitch.

New Paltz continues its Buffalo area trip tomorrow afternoon, squaring off with SUNY Fredonia in a 12 p.m. SUNYAC doubleheader.