The SUNY Oneonta softball team dropped both games of the doubleheader today to visiting SUNYAC foe Buffalo State. They lost the first game 4-3, and then the second game 8-7.
Oneonta (8-16/3-7 SUNYAC) outhit Buffalo State (15-11/8-4 SUNYAC) in both games of the twinbill, 11-10 and 12-10 respectively. In game 2 of the doubleheader, the Red Dragons went down 3-0 after the top of the second inning and rallied back when they plated two runs in their half. Sophomore Stephanie Gaska reached on a throwing error to start the inning off. With two outs, freshman Nicole Brieva walked and classmate Gemma Mahoney reached base thanks in part to a fielding error by the Bengals pitcher. Tricia Kendziera singled in the first two runs for Oneonta to put them down by a run, 3-2.
The Bengals answered back in the third and fourth innings with single runs before plating three in the fifth to take an 8-2 lead. Taylor Swiatek singled to right center and scored after Brieanna Brink, who reached on a fielding error. Brianna Fenski hit in the second and third runs of the inning on a single to right field before being thrown out trying to advance to second.
Oneonta was not done, as the comeback mounted. In the bottom of the fifth inning, Katie O'Flynn singled to left field followed by a walk to Shannon McQueeney. Brieva then singled up the middle to drive in O'Flynn and McQueeney. The Red Dragons worked the score back to 8-5 after scoring another run in the sixth inning.
With two outs in the seventh, Kendziera started the rally off with a single to left field. Chandler Campbell doubled to score Kendziera. Nicole Marzillo stepped up to the plate and hit a shot down the left field line, bringing home Campbell. The valiant comeback fell short as Bengals ace pitcher, Maddie Coneys, was able to strike out the next batter to end the game.
Kendziera, Campbell, and Marzillo each had multiple hits. Brieva added two runs batted in.
In game 1, the Red Dragons took a 3-0 lead into the final inning when the Bengals came charging back to score four runs to take the win 4-3.
Oneonta scored the games first two runs in the second inning. McQueeney started it off with a walk and Brianna Rivera followed with a single through the left side. Laura Loudis laid down a sacrifice bunt to move McQueeney and Rivera up a base. Brieva stepped in and roped a double to center field, plating the two base runners.
The Red Dragons added a run to their lead in the fifth when Marzillo led off with a double to left center field. Senior Kalyn Deso hit her in to give Oneonta a 3-0 lead.
The Bengals started the rally off with a Shelly Maggard double to left field. Lindsay Goff hit Maggard in on a single up the middle. The Red Dragons were able to get two outs with the score at 3-1, but a fielding error gave Buffalo State new life. With the two runners on, Brianna Fenski tripled to deep left center field to tie the score at 3-3. Fenski scored the game winner on a hit by Aleesha Williams.
Rivera went 3-for-4 in game 1.
Oneonta will be back in action this Tuesday when they host a doubleheader with Ithaca College beginning at 3 p.m.
