STAFF REPORTS
news@allwnynews.com
LEESBURG, Fla.—Buffalo State rallied from an early deficit to defeat Union 9-8 in eight innings before falling short against Clarkson 6-5 in nine innings in today’s opening day of its 12-game stay in Florida.
GAME #1: Buffalo State – 9, Union – 8
Cassandra O’Hern (Augusta, NJ/High Point) was 3 for 3 with a pair of home runs and six RBIs to pace Buffalo State to the victory. Laura Crooks (Niagara Falls/Niagara Wheatfield) was 2 for 4 with a double and three runs scored, and Kaelee Lynch (Atwater, CA/Buhach Colony) was 2 for 3
Union jumped out to an early 4-1 lead, but O’Hern belted a three-run shot for her first collegiate home run in the bottom of the second to even the score. The Dutchwomen plated another run in the third and two more in the fifth inning to restore the three-run lead before O’Hern blasted another three-run homer to even the score in the sixth. The international tiebreaker rule went into effect in the first extra inning and the Dutchwomen were able to plate their baserunner to take an 8-7 advantage.In the bottom of the inning, the Bengals moved their runner to third with a sacrifice bunt, followed by a bunt single by Crooks. After an intentional walk of O’Hern, the Bengals capitalized on a throwing error by the Union short stop that allowed the tying and winning runs to score. The Bengals finished with 13 hits, compared to 11 by Union. Allie Block (N. Tonawanda/Starpoint) was officially credited with the win, striking out the only batter she faced in the final inning. Scarlett Whitman (Grand Island/Grand Island) started the game, allowing eight hits and seven runs (five earned) in five innings, and Nicole Adams (Lockport/Starpoint) threw 2 2/3 innings, surrendering three hits and one unearned run.
GAME #2: Clarkson – 6, Buffalo State – 5 (9 inn.)
Buffalo State battled back again with two runs in the seventh to force extra innings again in the late game, but could not close it out in a 6-5 loss. Crooks and O’Hern stayed hot at the plate combining for five of the Bengals’ 15 hits. Crooks was 3 for 5 with two runs, and O’Hern finished 2 for 4 and scored a run. Danielle Szymkowiak (Cheektowaga/Cheektowaga) was 2 for 4 with three RBIs, and Block, Emily Frajdofer (Cheektowaga/JFK) and Kaelee Lynch (Atwater, CA/Buhach Colony) also added two hits apiece. The Bengals twice erased two-run deficits. After trailing 3-1 early, the Bengals scored one run in the fourth and then evened the score at 3-3 with an RBI double by Block in the fifth. The Golden Knights pulled back in front with a two-run home run in the sixth, by Szymkowiak’s two-run single in the seventh knotted the score at 5-5. The Bengals proceeded to load the bases with just one out in the inning, but could not plate a winning run. Both teams were retired in order in the first extra inning. The Bengals pushed a pair of runners to second and third with no outs in the top of the ninth, but ended the inning with a pair of pop outs and a strikeout. In the bottom of the inning, the Golden Knights used a sacrifice bunt to move the tie-breaker runner to third and then won the game with an RBI single to left field. Block suffered the loss, scattering 10 hits and giving up five earned runs while striking out five.
Buffalo State will continue its Florida trip with a pair of Sunday games against Buena Vista and Tufts at 9 and 11:30 a.m. respectively.
