Buffalo State Softball Sweeps Nazareth in Non-conference Matchup

Nicole Adams earned her second win of the season in a 3-2 victory over Nazareth. Recap, photo courtesy of Buffalo State.

BUFFALO, N.Y. — Lexi Haley (Rochester/Aquinas) pitched a shutout to help the Bengals earn a 7-0 opening win over the visiting Nazareth Golden Flyers and then Buffalo State came from behind in the second game of the day for a 3-2 victory to earn the non-conference sweep on Tuesday afternoon.

GAME 1 BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Buffalo State – 7, Nazareth - 0
LOCATION:  Softball Field – Buffalo, N.Y.
RECORDS: Buffalo State (11-14), Nazareth (13-12)

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Stephanie Novo (Cheektowaga/Depew) led the Bengals offense in game one, finishing 3 for 3 from the plate with two runs and an RBI.
• Danielle Szymkowiak (Cheektowaga/Cheektowaga) went 2 for 3 from the plate, with one run and one run RBI and Melissa Woods (Lakeview/Frontier) finished 2 for 2 with two runs.
• Haley pitched the shutout, earning the win in the circle and allowing just one hit with two strikeouts in seven innings.
• The Bengals wasted little time getting on the scoreboard, tallying a run in the bottom of the first off a single from Szymkowiak that scored Novo.
• Buffalo State added two more runs on four hits in the bottom of the second inning and closed out the sixth with four runs to seal the win.  

FOR THE FOES

• The pitcher, Nicole White was the only Golden Flyer to get a hit, finishing 1 for 2 from the plate.
• White recorded the loss in the circle, allowing seven runs on 12 hits with four walks and two strikeouts in six innings pitched.

GAME 2 BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Buffalo State – 3, Nazareth - 2
LOCATION:  Softball Field – Buffalo, N.Y.
RECORDS: Buffalo State (12-14), Nazareth (13-13)

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Third baseman Jean Stahl (W. Seneca/W. Seneca East) finished the second game 2 for 3 with one RBI, while Szymkowiak went 1 for 3 from the plate with one run and two RBIs.
• Nicole Adams (Lockport/Starpoint) earned the win in the circle, pitching 4 innings, while allowing one run on four hits with two walks and one strikeout.
• Jordan Sarat (Caledonia/Caledonia-Mumford) started in the circle for Buffalo State and allowed one run on four hits with a strikeout. Haley came in to close the final inning and held the Golden Flyers hitless.
• Nazareth was the first to strike in game two, scoring a run in the top of the second.
• The Golden Flyers would hang onto their lead and keep the Bengals scoreless until a big fifth inning for Buffalo State.
• The Bengals used two hits and a Nazareth error to score three runs and take the lead in the bottom of the fifth.
• In the top of the sixth inning, the Golden Flyers had a chance to tie the game, but only managed to score one run and the Bengals defense held on to seal the win in the top of the seventh.

FOR THE FOES

• Stephanie Mongelli led the Nazareth offense, finishing 2 for 3 from the plate with two runs.
• Rachel Mertens recorded the loss in the circle, allowing three runs on six hits with one walk and one strikeout in six innings pitched.

UP NEXT
Buffalo State returns to action for a "Battle by the Lake" home conference doubleheader against Fredonia on Saturday starting at 12 p.m.