Buff State softball edges Mount Saint Vincent, loses to No. 4 Williams in Florida

BUFFALO STATE ATHLETICS

CLERMONT, F.L. — Buffalo State used a run in the bottom of the fourth inning to escape with a 1-0 victory over Mount Saint Vincent in the early game, before being one out away from the upset win over No. 4 Williams in a 4-3 loss in eight innings to close its Spring Break in Clermont, Fla.
 
GAME #1 BASICS
FINAL SCORE:  Buffalo State – 1, Mount Saint Vincent – 0
LOCATION: Legends Way Ballfields – Clermont, Fla.
RECORDS: Buffalo State (2-8), Mount Saint Vincent (4-1)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Julia Blujus (Amherst/Sacred Heart) finished 2 for 3 from the plate with a double to center field, a stolen base and a run scored.
• Kaelee Lynch (Atwater, CA/Buhuch Colony) picked up the game-winning RBI, going 1 for 2 from the dish.
• Cassie O’Hern (Augusta, NJ/High Point) added a single in the win.
• Marissa Hayes (N. Tonawanda/Niagara-Wheatfield) earned her first career shutout, allowing seven hits in seven innings of work.
• Hayes and Rachel Heizer were stuck in a pitching duel for the first three innings, until Mount Saint Vincent connected on three singles to load the bases with one out.
• Buffalo State responded with forcing back-to-back groundouts to keep the score level.
• In the bottom of the fourth inning, Blujus reached on an infield single and stole second to give the Bengals a runner in scoring position. Lynch sent the next pitch to right field that allowed Blujus to score the deciding run.
• Mount Saint Vincent threatened in the top of the sixth inning with a runner on third base, but was unable to even the score.
• The Bengals completed the 1-2-3 inning in the final frame, with three-straight outs, to seal the win.

 
FOR THE FOES

• Taylor Wittick led the Dolphins from the plate, going 2 for 3 with a pair of singles.
• Rachel Heizer was credited with the loss on the hill, allowing only one run on four hits.

 
GAME #2 BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Williams – 4, Buffalo State – 3 (8 inn.)
LOCATION: Legends Way Ballfields – Clermont, Fla.
RECORDS: Williams (13-3), Buffalo State (2-9)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Emily Frajdofer (Cheektowaga/JFK) paced the Bengals’ offense in the second game, going 1 for 4 from the dish and picking up an RBI.
• Blujus and O’Hern finished 1 for 4 from the plate respectively and each recording a run scored.
• Hannah Dunlap (Batavia/Oakfield-Alabama) also picked up a run scored.
• Nicole Adams (Lockport/Starpoint) was credited with the loss on the mound, limiting the Williams’ offense to only four runs off of six hits in 7 1/3 innings pitched.
• Williams struck first with a pair of hits that pushed across the first run of the game in the bottom of the first inning.
• Buffalo State’s Nicole Adams and Williams’ Kirstin Mapes held the batters in check for the next four innings as the score remained 1-0.
• Following a two-out error by the Ephs and a walk to put two runners on base, O’Hern stroked a hit to shortstop but a poor throw lead to Blujus and Dunlap crossing the plate to give the Bengals a 2-1 lead.
• The Ephs responded with a one-out double to center field in the bottom of the seventh inning. Williams’ next batter Riley Salvo hit a sacrifice fly to right field and the throw to home was one second too late as the runner crossed to tie the game and send it into extra innings.
• Buffalo State hit back-to-back singles to score the runner placed at second base, via the international tiebreaker, to take a 3-2 lead in the top of the eighth inning.
• The Bengals fell victim to two errors in the bottom of the inning that sent the runner placed at second, via the international tiebreaker, home to tie the score at 3-3.
• A single by the next Ephs’ batter loaded the bases and a final walk pushed home the game-clinching run.

 
FOR THE FOES

• Gabi Medvene-Cirigli led the William’s offense, going 2 for 3 with a run scored.
• Kirstin Mapes finished 1 for 4 from the plate and pitched 6 1/3 innings, giving up two runs on three hits.
• Rebecca Duncan was credited with the win on the mound, giving up one run on two hits in 1 2/3 inning in relief.

 
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