Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

NEW PALTZ, N.Y.-- The State University of New York at New Paltz softball team battled hearity in its State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) doubleheader against Buffalo State, but despite a gutsy performance, the Hawks lost both games, 9-1 (five innings), before dropping a 3-2 10 inning game decided by the international tiebreaker rule.

The Bengals took an early lead in the first game, scoring five runs in the first inning and addedl four runs in the third. These nine runs ultimately caused the mercy rule, ending the game after only five innings. The second game of the doubleheader featured an entirely new New Paltz offense, which produced 11 hits throughout a hard-fought 10 innings.

Saturday's pair of losses drops New Paltz to 10-22, 7-11 SUNYAC, while Buffalo State improves to 17-11, 9-5 SUNYAC. The Hawks finish off their regular season play in a non-conference double header, hosting Mount Saint Mary College on Tuesday, April 29, at 3 p.m. The Bengals next travel to The College at Brockport on Monday, April 28, for a SUNYAC doubleheader at 3 p.m. 

First Game 
The Bengals got off to a quick start, scoring nine unanswered runs through the first three innings. Buffalo State scored runs off of doubles from junior Joanna Bardak, sophomore Sarah Gorski and junior Jenna Clarke in the top of the first. Junior Taylor Swiatek earned an RBI on a fielder's choice and senior Carly Knight singled to left for the last RBI of the inning. Again in the third, Buffalo State continued its strong hitting, scoring four runs off singles from Knight and senior Shelly Maggard. Sophomore Chrissy Rennard also had an RBI on a fielder's choice in the bottom of the third.

Down 9-0 in the bottom of the fifth, the Hawks needed to create some offense, but could only manage one run. Senior Amber Carozza started the rally in the bottom of the fifth, hitting a double to deep left field. Junior Shayna Burgess hit a shot to right center, earning herself a triple, and knocking Carozza home. 

Carozza suffered the loss for the Hawks, pitching five innings and allowing nine hits and nine runs. She drops to 4-7 on the season. Junior Maddie Coneys earned the win for Buffalo State, pitching two innings, allowing only one hit and striking out two batters.

The New Paltz offense generated five hits through five innings. Burgess, junior Noelle Grande, junior Meg Brewer, junior Juliette Verso and Carozza each had one hit for the Hawks. Buffalo State's offense was led by Knight who went 2-for-3, driving in three RBI. Gorski also went 2-for-3 with an RBI. 

Second Game
?The Hawks fought hard through 10 innings, losing 3-2 in a game decided by the international tiebreaker rule that places a runner on second base to start an inning. Buffalo State scored two runs in the first inning, off a double by junior Kate Brownell. The Hawks were quick to answer, scoring a run in the bottom of the third. Grande reached first base on a fielders choice, and Brewer knocked her in on a double to left field. Sophomore Jordan Fiore led the bottom of the fourth inning off, facing a new Bengals pitcher, sophomore Jordan Sarat. Fiore hit a line drive down the left field line, and she was able to use her speed reaching third on a triple. Sophomore Katie Rutcofsky was able to knock Fiore home on a single to left, which tied the game at 2-2. 

The International Tie Breaker Rule went into effect in the top of the 10th. Junior Jenna Clarke was placed on second and moved over on a sacrifice bunt by sophomore Chrissy Rennard. Clarke would ultimately be hit home by senior Shelly Maggard to earn Buffalo State a 3-2 victory.  On the New Paltz opportunity, senior Chelsea Kull placed on second base, Carozza laid down a sacrifice bunt, moving Kull to third. Unfortunately, no one was able to knock her home, on a hitless bottom of the 10th for the Hawks.

Rutcofsky was the losing pitcher in the nightcap, throwing 10 innings and allowing six hits and three runs. Senior Sam Tilkins earned the win for the Bengals, improving her record to 3-1. 

Despite the loss, the Hawks were able to outhit Buffalo State 11-6. The Hawks had four doubles in the nightcap coming from Brewer, sophomore Nicole DeCosta, freshman Kiersten Carlomagno, and junior Juliette Verso. Verso, Decosta and Kull went 2-for-3, 2-for-4 and 2-for-5, respectively. Leading the Buffalo State offense was senior Jordan Dudish who went 2-for-4, but their real offensive hero was Maggard who hit the game winning single in the top of the tenth.