New Paltz, NY — The State University of New York at New Paltz collected its second straight SUNYAC doubleheader sweep Tuesday, defeating visiting Buffalo State, 3-1 and 8-3, respectively.
 
The Hawks (19-9 overall, 6-2 SUNYAC) got another stout outing from sophomore Lindsay Roman on the mound, as she tossed her second-straight complete game win, allowing just four hits in seven innings pitched.
 
After three scoreless innings, SUNY New Paltz struck first in the bottom of the fourth with Madison Maggs getting the offense going with a lead-off double. Sydney Bonewit also landed on base after a miscue on a ball hit to short, giving the Hawks two on with no outs. Rhionna Bianchini moved both runners over on a ground out before Jackie Rometo stepped up to hit a sacrifice fly to right to plate Maggs and giving her team a 1-0 lead.
 
In the next at-bat, Katie Quagliana smacked a two-run triple down the right field line to push the lead to 3-0, which proved pivotal down the stretch. The Hawks offense stalled there with the Bengals' Carli Bogue getting out of the jam after allowing two walks later in the inning.
 
"Honestly when I saw that pitch it was one of those ones where I just swung as hard as I could just hoping I got a base hit so I could score those runs or at least advance them," Quagliana said. "It was a farther hit than I anticipated, so it ended up working out."
 
Buffalo State threatened in the top of the fifth, starting the inning with a lead-off walk, followed by a single on its next at-bat. Both runners advanced after a ball got past Jessica Graepel behind the plate and the Bengals took advantage with a sacrifice ground out to get on the board. Roman closed out from there, however, thanks to a great defensive play by Maggs. On a softly hit foul ball curving back toward the visitor dugout, Maggs laid-out for the diving catch to secure the second out of the inning. Roman then forced a ground out to end the threat and keep the SUNY New Paltz lead at 3-1 entering the bottom half.
 
 
Roman allowed just one hit in the following two innings, ending the sixth with a strikeout and closing out the game with a 1-2-3 inning to earn her eighth win of the season after registering six strikeouts in the outing. Quagliana was the only Hawk to record two hits in the game, going 2-for-4 with two RBI and her hot bat continued into game two.
 
"I think the mentality for today was to be together as a team, produced those hits, just makes plays, go balls to the wall and go as hard as you can," Quagliana said. "That's one thing we learned from Fredonia yesterday, is they go 100 percent and I think today we decided that's something that we need to also do. I think we also played well as a team today. Everyone produced and that's something that produces a win, everyone working together. I think we were a really good team today."
 
Rometo struck a hard-hit single to center to open up the action in game two. Quagliana advanced Rometo over with a ground out, before the freshman stole third and then reached home on an error at third to hand SUNY New Paltz a quick 1-0 advantage.
 
Buffalo State answered in the third, regaining the lead at 2-1. A lead-off walk helped the Bengals offense get going, as they stole second in the next at-bat to put themselves in scoring position. Taylor Benton then struck an RBI single to shallow center to bring Buffalo State's first run across and added one more on a tough grounder to short that took a hard hop, allowing the runner on third to score. Jillian Harrison, who earned the game two start, then shut the door with a ground out to first to hold the difference to just a run with her team coming through in the bottom of the inning, backing her up with five runs to re-take the advantage.
 
Quagliana was hit by a pitch inside and ultimately advanced to third on back-to-back passed balls. After another hit batter, Jillian Shelbourne was clutch with an RBI single down the right field line to bring Quagliana home and tie the score. Maggs then brought across another run with an RBI base hit through the left side and Greco added on with a hard shot back to the pitcher that deflected off her glove, allowing Greco to reach safely at first and Shelbourne to touch home to push the lead to 4-2.
 

Quagliana with a shot down the right field line for a 2RBI triple to give @npsbhawks a 3-0 lead in bottom 4th! #NPHawks #NPSB #SUNYAC pic.twitter.com/LxKJgMuawa

— New Paltz Hawks (@nphawks) April 12, 2022

 
Buffalo State opted for a pitching change with two outs and runners on second and third, but Bonewit made sure to take advantage as she struck a liner to shallow left, scoring Greco and Maggs and bringing the cushion to 6-2.
 
The Bengals added one in the fourth, but Quagliana came in for relief and limited the scoring after securing two outs on a strikeout and pop up to keep the score at 6-3 entering the bottom half. The senior then helped her own cause, leading off with a single to left before stealing second. She advanced to third on a single by Campsey and Shelbourne brought her home on an RBI ground out. SUNY New Paltz then added one more insurance run as Campsey crossed home on a wild pitch.
 
"Early on and even in the middle of the season, we kept saying the pieces are coming together and we're still figuring things out in different positions, but I think we're finally starting to see that come around as a team as a whole, rather than a group of individuals," said Hawks coach Krysti Maronski. 
Sydney Waldon entered in the top of the seventh and after allowing a lead-off walk, struck out the next batter for the first out and ended the seventh with one more K before securing the win on a ground out for the Hawks.
 
Harrison earned the win, her fifth of the year, after pitching 3.1 innings, allowing four hits and two earned runs with two strikeouts. Quagliana pitched 2.2 innings, allowed four hits and had one strikeout.
 
"I love our pitching staff," Maronski said. "They're so supportive of one another and they work really hard in practices. They're just competitive players and if it's not one person's day, another person is there to step up and come in and get the job done."
 
At the plate, Quagliana went 1-for-2 with two runs, while Maggs and Greco each finished with a multi-hit game, including one run and an RBI apiece. Shelbourne also had a productive game at the plate, going 1-for-2 with a run, two RBI and two walks.
 
"Katie just does her thing at the plate," Maronski said. "She sees the ball really well. She's got a great swing and she's so relaxed out there. All she's thinking is see the ball, hit the ball. I've always loved her approach. I think her, Carol Ann and Julia [Mastrup], our three seniors and captains, they're doing a really great job of leading this group."
 
The sweep keeps SUNY New Paltz in pace for the top spot in the conference with huge SUNYAC series coming up against The College at Brockport and SUNY Geneseo Friday and Saturday, respectively.

Post-Game Interview with Katie Quagliana


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