VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — Buffalo State could not hold an early lead as it lost its season-opener against No. 10 Rowan, 7-5, and then dropped a 9-8 eight-inning decision against Shenandoah in the late game today at the Virginia Wesleyan Beach Blast.
GAME #1: Rowan – 7, Buffalo State – 5
Buffalo State jumped out to a four-run lead, but could not hold on against No. 10 Rowan in the season opener, falling 7-5. The Bengals plated five runs on just five hits, but drew 10 walks.
Transfer Allie Block (N. Tonawanda/Starpoint) pitched the complete game for Buffalo State, allowing eight hits and four earned runs with two strikeouts and five walks. She was also 2 for 3 with a double and an RBI at the plate. Laura Crooks (Niagara Falls/Niagara Wheatfield) was also 2 for 3 with a run scored Buffalo State converted three walks and a bunt single into an early go-ahead run in the first inning on an RBI-grounder by Danielle Szymkowiak (Cheektowaga/Cheektowaga).
The Profs answered with a run of their own in the third, also taking advantage of a three-walk inning with an RBI ground ball to even the score at 1-1. Buffalo State responded in the bottom of the third. After a pair of walks, Block ripped a two-out single to right field that allowed two runs to score to put the Bengals in front 3-1. The Bengals pushed the lead to 5-1 with a pair of unearned runs on a two-out error in the bottom of the fourth. Rowan cut the deficit to 5-4 in the fifth with three runs on three hits and one Bengal error, and completed the rally with a three-run seventh inning on two hits, three errors and a wild pitch to pull ahead 7-5. After a leadoff walk in the bottom of the seventh, Block doubled to put runners on second and third with no outs, but Rowan worked out of the jam to preserve the win.
GAME #2: Shenandoah – 9, Buffalo State – 8
Buffalo State rallied with a five-run sixth inning to tie the score in the late game, but fell just short in extra innings, losing 9-8. Crooks paced the Bengals’ bats, going 3 for 5 with an RBI and a run.
Cassandra O’Hern (Augusta, NJ/High Point) was 2 for 5 with two RBIs and two runs. Kaelee Lynch (Atwater, CA/Buhach Colony) was 2 for 5 with a triple and a run, while Julia Blujus (Amherst/Sacred Heart), Block and Nicole Adams (Lockport/Starpoint) also had two hits apiece.
Block was saddled with the loss, allowing one hit and two unearned runs in 2 2/3 innings of relief.
Adams started the game and allowed five runs on two hits and 10 walks in 4 1/3 innings. Buffalo State answered three early runs by Shenandoah with a two-run fifth, but the Hornets plated four runs in the bottom of the inning to lead 7-2. The Bengals belted four hits and capitalized on three errors in the sixth to plate five runs to even the score. Buffalo State scored a run on an error in the top of the eighth inning, but the Hornets answered with an RBI single and then plated the winning run on a fielding error in the outfield. The Bengals finished with 14 hits and Shenandoah committed eight errors, while the Hornets had just six hits with two Buffalo State errors. Buffalo State issued 10 walks however, and only drew three.
Buffalo State will play two more games at the Virginia Wesleyan Beach Blast Saturday, taking on Frostburg at noon and Randolph-Macon at 2 p.m.
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