New Paltz, NY — The State University of New York at New Paltz swept the competition in day one of the SUNYAC Championship Tournament Thursday on Mary Gray Deane Field, defeating the Buffalo State Bengals and the Geneseo Knights, 4-3 and 5-0, respectively, avenging losses against a pair of teams who knocked the Hawks out of the tournament last year.  

Game one was a matchup between the Hawks and the Bengals. The contest was pushed earlier than anticipated due to weather concerns, as first pitch was at 8:30 a.m.  

At the top of the first, Buffalo State came out hot, having secured a double in its second at-bat before the following batter reached first from a SUNY New Paltz fielding error. However, the Bengals could not send anyone home, as the Hawks denied the next two hitters with Lindsay Roman pitching out of the threat after forcing a double play to end the inning.  

Sophomore Jaycee Filancia was walked to leadoff the Hawks' first offensive threat, which was continued by Rhionna Bianchini on hit past the shortstop for a single. Unfortunately, the hosts could not finish the opportunity and struck out on two consecutive at-bats. 

Buffalo State etched the first run on the board with Madison Lucas having launched a rocket that inched over the orange lining of the near side right field fence. SUNY New Paltz prevented any further opportunity and secured two catches in the infield to switch sides.  

Kelly Marmorowski singled to get the Hawks moving, heeded by Bianchini, who hit just past the infield to put herself on first. Again, SUNY New Paltz could not bring the opportunity to fruition, having lined out and struck out looking to end the second, the Bengals still up 1-0.  

After Buffalo State was silenced by three straight outs, Jackie Rometo approached the plate and singled to center field with two outs in the bottom of the third to keep the inning alive. A wild pitch advanced Rometo to third, and an errant play by Buffalo State's catcher allowed Rometo to go home, as she earned the Hawks' first run to tie the score. Jillian Shelbourne followed with a line drive to center field to land on first. SUNY New Paltz did not capitalize, as a ground-out halted the rally.  
 

At the top of the fifth, Lucas sent another line drive to center field and Hawks' Sydney Bonewit nearly made a tough over the shoulder catch, but it instead dropped inside the fence for a double. It was succeeded by a one-bagger to position two runners on the corners, one of them being a pinch runner for Lucas on third. Buffalo State then secured an RBI after a single to center field, and the pinch runner scored to put the Bengals up one.  

Sydney Waldon replaced Roman on the mound. Waldon went on to strike out two consecutive batters, the latter one looking, to strand two on for the Bengals and limit the damage.  

"I wanted to go in there and mow them down, that was my mindset," Waldon said. "I was thinking, 'go in there, throw hard and hit my spots.'"  

Designated hitter Isabella Shepherd started the bottom of the fifth with a single out to center field. Lauren Serrao sacrifice bunted to advance Shepherd to second. Filancia was walked once again, and Rometo followed her after hitting a liner to center, which was dropped by the Bengals' outfield to load the bases for the Hawks. Shelbourne batted again while being pressured by two strikes but came in clutch, as she drove a dagger to center field to send Shepherd home. 

Kelsey O'Brien reached base on a fielder's choice with Filancia tagged on a force out at home. With the bases loaded and Marmorowski up, the Bengals struck the senior out, and SUNY New Paltz could not translate the lingering offensive opportunity.  

The Bengals struggled to land on base, as they popped up three bats in a row to start the sixth, and switched over to the defensive end while the Hawks were up to the plate. Bianchini singled, Bonewit hit to first to send Bianchini to third and got tagged out on the play. However, Shepherd came through once again with the go-ahead hit, scoring Bianchini to give the Hawks their first lead of the game.  

Trying to extend their momentum, Serrao flew one out to center field, but the attempt was caught by the Bengals. Filanica was up to bat, and this time, was not walked. The sophomore knocked one into center field as Shepherd ran home and etched another run onto the scoreboard.  Filancia would advance to third off a wild pitch, but Rometo popped one high to center field, and Buffalo State put out to close the door on SUNY New Paltz's offense.  

 

Lucas showed up again for the Bengals and singled to left field but ran to third due to an infield error from the Hawks. A go-ahead grounder sent Lucas home unearned to bring the visitors within one. After another strikeout from Waldon, Bianchini booked a clutch pickup on the next hit and dished to Shelbourne at first to secure the final out of game one.  

"I think we are going into [the next game] with more intensity," said Waldon. "We are going to bring our bats a lot better…and me and Lindsay are going to go off."   

Determined by a game played earlier in the day, the Hawks were set to compete against Geneseo for game two, after the Knights took a loss to the Oneonta Red Dragons 5-1.  

Roman was back in the circle to start game two and came out strong. She only allowed one hit and struck out one in the first.  

"My game plan was to stay calm," she said. "I knew that they were going to be pressing, but all we needed to do was play our game like I know we can."  

Roman continued her dominance into the third with two strikeouts and one grounded-out hit, a performance which quickly escorted Geneseo to the outfield. For the Hawks, Rometo singled to shortstop to be the first on base. Shelbourne got hit by a pitch and advanced to first in the following at bat, replaced by Kate Hope to pinch run. O'Brien then drove one to center field, which sent Rometo home. 

The next inning was another showing for the Hawks. Bonewit nailed one into the near side alley and made her way to second base. Serrao gave Bonewit a go-ahead hit to head home and secured herself one of her two RBI of the game. Filancia was up to the plate next with Serrao on second following a stolen base. Filancia knocked a two-base hit to the topside of the diamond, giving Serrao the chance to run home for the 3-0 SUNY New Paltz lead. 

The Knights were having trouble at the plate, and struggled finishing offensive threats. At the top of the fifth, bases were loaded for the visitors, but a flyout ended the chance and they would not get a similar circumstance to come back the rest of the competition.  

The Hawks, however, had no problem hitting dingers. Marmorowski sent one to opposite field to get herself on first, replaced by Sophia D'Arcangelis. Bianchini walked two batters later, before Shepherd came through again to send runners around. The graduate student singled to center field and D'Arcangelis pivoted around the bases back home, adding to the 4-0 lead.  

Serrao persisted with a hit to left field, giving Bianchini time to score and extending the advantage to 5-0. Shepherd attempted to slide but was halted from a tag to the face at the plate which put an end to a triumphant Hawks rally. 

Waldon came in at the top of the seventh to relieve Roman, who finished the outing with five strikeouts, while allowing six hits against 26 batters faced.  

On the final at-bat of the day, Geneseo's Kaitlyn Schmitz attempted to zip one past first base, but Shelbourne got a glove on it and called game with the last put-out of the contest. The Hawks were victorious with a 5-0 score, avenging last season's heartbreaking, 4-3 loss that put an end to their playoff run. SUNY New Paltz returned the favor, eliminating the three-time reigning champs on day one of the conference tournament. 

Bonewit and Serrao led the team offensively with two hits apiece. Bonewit finished 2-for-3 with a run scored, while Serrao went 2-for-3 with a run scored and two RBI.  

"I think we are going to keep it going and keep the energy high in the dugout," said Roman regarding the Hawks' winning mentality. "[We are] always cheering, taking deep breaths, and I think staying within ourselves is going to help us win."  

The two victories on the day advanced SUNY New Paltz into the winner's bracket of the double elimination tournament. The top-seeded Hawks will next face the winner of No. 2 Cortland and No. 4 Oneonta Friday, which is currently scheduled for 3 p.m. weather permitting.  

For up-to-date tournament schedule, click here. 

Buffalo State Post-Game Featuring Isabella Shepherd


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