The Buffalo State softball team split its four conference games last week, falling short of
the sixth and final spot in the SUNYAC playoffs.
The Bengals finished 8-10 in conference play and will miss the postseason for the
second time in four years. They finished in seventh place in the SUNYAC.
“When I found out, I instantly started crying,” senior outfielder Brieanna Brink said. “It
was kind of like a dagger to my heart. Not a way I wanted to end my career at all.”
Going into the weekend, the Bengals knew they had to win one more game than
Oswego, who eventually secured the final playoff spot. The Lakers went 2-2 in their four
games, meaning that Buffalo State’s two wins weren’t enough to steal the final bid.
“I think that was the most difficult part going into (Saturday), was we needed somebody
else to fail, and it wasn’t in our control,” said coach Marie Curran.
On Friday, Buffalo State struggled defensively against Plattsburgh, despite getting solid
pitching from Maddie Coneys and Sam Tilkins.
In the first game, Coneys pitched all six innings, allowing three hits and two unearned
runs en route to a 2-0 loss. Both runs came in the first inning on a pair of two throwing
errors.
The Bengals managed just three hits of their own. Their best chance came in the fourth
inning, when they got runners to second and third with no outs.
After a strikeout and a walk, Lindsay Goff flew out to left field. Stephanie Novo, who was
tagging on the play, was thrown out at the plate and the Bengals were held scoreless
the rest of the way.
In the second game, Buffalo State jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first, but
was unable to hold the advantage. The Cardinals tied the game in the bottom of the
inning, and it remained knotted until the Bengals pushed across a run in the fourth
inning.
In the fifth inning, Plattsburgh scored three runs, aided again by two Buffalo State
errors. The Cardinals held the Bengals scoreless the rest of the way, and won 5-3.
“I think that was what was difficult about Plattsburgh because they all know in both
games, we should have won either one of them,” Curran said.
On Saturday, Buffalo State’s pitchers turned in impressive performances against
Potsdam, this time resulting in wins.
In the first game, Coneys allowed only three hits and finished with her first shutout of
the season. No runners got past first base for the Bears.
Breanna Fenski led the way offensively with a grand slam in the second inning. She also
had a triple in the Bengals’ 6-0 victory.
“It felt really good,” Fenski said. “Off the bat, it was just one of those swings that feels
really good, and you just know that it’s going to be at least a good hit.”
In the second half of the doubleheader, Kelsi Leo and Tilkins combined for another
shutout. Together, they scattered five hits and held the Bears off the board throughout
the close game.
Before Saturday, the last time the Bengals had back-to-back shutouts was April 17, 2010
against Oswego.
Buffalo State’s only run came in the fourth inning, when Sam Strapason’s RBI single
scored Fenski from third base. The Bengals won the contest, 1-0, ending their
conference schedule on a high note.
For Goff, a senior catcher, the most frustrating part of the season was that the team had
the ability to win, but they just couldn’t get every component of the team going at the
same time.
“The hardest part to get through is that out of all my years being here, this has been
the most talented team,” she said. “I just don’t understand why we couldn’t pull it
together.”
Chris Dierken can be reached by email at dierken.record@live.com or on Twitter
@cdierken.