STAFF REPORTS
news@allwnynews.com
CLERMONT, Fla. — Buffalo State dropped a 10-7 decision to Elmhurst despite outhitting the Blue Jays, and then erased a five-run deficit to post a 6-5 victory over Calvin today in Florida.
GAME #1: Elmhurst – 10, Buffalo State – 7
Buffalo State outhit Elmhurst 14-9, but came out on the short end of a 10-7 decision in the day’s first game. Danielle Szymkowiak (Cheektowaga/Cheektowaga) was perfect at the plate for the Bengals, going 4 for 4 with three doubles, three runs scored and an RBI. Julia Blujus (Amherst/Sacred Heart) finished 3 for 5 with a run scored, while Laura Crooks (Niagara Falls/Niagara Wheatfield) was 2 for 4 with two runs scored. Melissa Woods (Lakeview/Frontier) was also 2 for 4 with two RBIs. The Blue Jays scored five runs on four hits in the first inning and never let the Bengals dig out of the hole. Buffalo State assembled a three-run fifth inning to close the gap to three runs at 8-5, but Elmhurst reclaimed the cushion with a two-run sixth inning. The Bengals managed to plate one run in the seventh and then bring the tying run to the plate with no outs, but following a pitching change, the Blue Jays secured three-straight outs to end the threat and seal the win. Nicole Adams (Lockport/Starpoint) took the loss, allowing five runs on four hits in 2/3 of an inning. Allie Block (N. Tonawanda/Starpoint) tossed 5 1/3 innings of relief, surrendering five runs on five hits with six strikeouts.
GAME #2: Buffalo State – 6, Calvin – 5
The Bengals stormed back from a 5-0 deficit and won the late game over Calvin on a walk-off RBI single by Cassandra O’Hern (Augusta, NJ/High Point) that scored Crooks. Block finished 2 for 3 with an RBI and a runs scored and earned her fourth win of the season in the circle, tossing three innings of no-hit scoreless relief while fanning four. O’Hern finished 3 for 4 with a pair of RBIs. Crooks was 2 for 4 with an RBI and two runs, and Blujus was 2 for 3 with a run scored. Calvin took advantage of one hit, a walk and an error to plate a pair of runs to open the scoring in the third inning. Then after a leadoff home run in the fifth, the Knights strung together three more hits and pushed the lead to 5-0. Buffalo State responded with five runs of their own in the bottom of the fifth to even the score, capitalizing on four hits and three Calvin errors.
Buffalo State will close out its stay in Florida Saturday with two more games against Southern Maine and Middlebury at 9 and 11:30 a.m. respectively.
