May 5, 2005

Fifth seeded Buffalo State (28-9) defeated third seeded Oneonta (18-15), 9-3, in the opening game of the 2005 SUNYAC softball tournament. The Bengals pounded out 11 hits, and capitalized on three Oneonta errors to plate seven unearned runs. The Bengals scored four runs in the fourth
inning to erase a 1-0 deficit, and take the lead for good. Lindsey Matheis opened the scoring for Buffalo State with a game tying-RBI double to centerfield to plate Nicole Sabuda. Laurie Hutten closed out the scoring in the frame with a two run-double to the right centerfield gap.

In the bottom of the fourth, Oneonta cut the deficit to 4-3 on a two-run homer from Sarah Place, but Buffalo State responded with four more runs in the fifth inning to pull away for the win. For Buffalo State, Hutten went two-for-three with a double and three runs batted in. Alyssa Brosius also went two for three, while every member of the Bengal starting lineup had a hit. Kristen Scheffold (12-3) picked up the win, scattering eight Red Dragon hits over seven innings, striking out six and walking two. Erica Gifford and Amy Herba each went two-for-three for Oneonta. Herba (12-7) suffered the loss for Oneonta, allowing eight runs with just one earned over five innings, fanning one and walking three. Kacie Cunningham hurled the final two innings in relief, allowing one run on three hits, striking out three.

Buffalo State will play top seeded Cortland at 2 p.m., while Oneonta will play the loser of the 4 p.m. contest that will see second seeded Geneseo face the winner
of the Brockport/Plattsburgh matchup.

Sixth seeded Brockport (21-14) took advantage of a pair of Plattsburgh (23-18) errors to pick up a 2-0 upset win in the first round of the SUNYAC tournament. In the first inning, Brockport capitalized when Ashley Broadhurst led off the game by reaching on an error, and Laura Laramie followed with a single up the middle. After both runners stole second and third base, a one out-RBI groundout by Sarah Wlodarczyk put the Golden Eagles ahead, 1-0. Emily Seawall-Butler reached third on a two out-single that was misplayed, but the Cardinals could not push the run across the plate.

A one out double by Laramie plated Katie Schweinfurth from first base in the fifth inning to extend the Golden Eagles' lead to 2-0. Lindsey Adamy (6-5) scattered five hits over seven innings, picking up her second shutout of the season. Laramie and Kristin Whittaker each had two hits with a double for Brockport. Jaclyn Leitze (14-6_ suffered the loss for Plattsburgh, allowing just two unearned runs on seven hits, striking out four. Stephanie Zweig closed out the game for the Cardinals, allowing just one hit over the final 2.2 innings. Jamie Prudhomme went two-for-three for the Cardinals.

Brockport will play second seeded Geneseo at 4 p.m., while Plattsburgh will play the loser of the 2 p.m. game between top seeded Cortland and Buffalo State on Friday at 10 a.m.

16th ranked and top seeded Cortland (29-9) pounded out 10 hits in a 6-1 victory over Buffalo State (28-10) in opening round action at the SUNYAC softball tournament. The Red Dragons received all the offense they would need in the bottom of the third inning, when Dominique Talbot cracked a two out, two run-homer off Bengal starting pitcher Melissa Balsavage. After Kate Yaun's two out-RBI single in the fourth pushed Cortland's edge to 3-0, Jamie Neuner smashed the Red Dragon's second two run-blast of the game. Cortland added a sixth run in the fifth inning before the Bengals got on the board on a solo home run from Jordan Banach. Stephanie Adamshick (14-5) picked up the win for Cortland, holding Buffalo State to two hits over five innings, fanning seven and walking two. Jamie Neuner and Talbot went two-for-four with two runs batted in. Kim Huson doubled and scored a run. Balsavage (5-4) suffered the loss for the Bengals, allowing five runs on five hits over 3.2 innings. Laurie Hutten, Emily Goldyn, Heidi Rammacher, and Banach had base hits for Buffalo State.

Cortland advances to the tournament semifinals on Friday against the winner of the Brockport/Geneseo match up. The first pitch will be at 2 p.m. Buffalo State will play Plattsburgh in an elimination game on Friday at 10 a.m.

Second seeded Geneseo defeated Brockport (21-15), 4-0, to advance to the SUNYAC semifinals against Cortland. The Blue Knights scored all four of their runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. Lauren Zefting led off he frame with an infield single, and stole second base. After an RBI double by Audrey Kuhn, Keaghan Reed walked and Jodi Guilboard sacrificed both into scoring position. Christina Marinucci followed with a two run single, and Reed scored on a single by Laura Skalaski. Heather Groves (5-3) suffered the loss for Brockport, allowing four runs on four hits over 3.1 innings. Amanda Traylor limited the Blue Knights to four hits the rest of the way with one strike out. Lindsey Cole, Kristin Whittaker, and Maggie Getter had base hits for the Golden Eagles, Cole with a double. Kuhn picked up the win for Geneseo, allowing just three hits over seven innings, fanning eight and walking two. Eight Blue Knights had base hits, while Kuhn, Marinucci, Skalaski, and Cat Pratico each had a run batted in.

Geneseo advances to Friday's semifinal against Cortland at 2 p.m., while Brockport will play Oneonta at noon.