Post Classifieds
Inconsistent pitching plagues Bengals
By Chris Dierken
On April 10, 2013
The Buffalo State softball team opened last weekend with a bang, but couldn't maintain its
momentum, ending its six-game weekend with a record of 2-4.
The Bengals (9-11, 4-4 SUNYAC) continued to struggle in close games, dropping their last four
games by a combined six runs. Head coach Marie Curran said the onus falls on the Bengals'
pitching staff to elevate their play in close games.
"We need our pitchers to show up," Curran said. "Right now, our pitching staff is not throwing
well.
"We need Kelsi (Leo) and Sam (Tilkins) to believe in themselves, and they just don't right now,
and I wish they did. ... We still know they can pitch, I just don't think they have as much faith in
themselves as we have in them."
After having their games postponed due to weather conditions on Wednesday, Buffalo State
came out hungry on Friday, defeating Oswego 10-4 in the first game of the doubleheader.
Senior outfielder Breanna Fenski hit a home run, drove in three and scored three runs in the
victory. Maddie Coneys held Oswego to one earned run in five innings pitched and struck out
six batters en route to her fifth win of the season.
"When Maddie is on the mound, she just brings a lot of confidence with the way she plays and
the way she pitches," Fenski said of Coneys. "She makes the team behind her feel like she's
going to get those outs for us."
In the second game, Buffalo State again came out swinging, scoring two runs in the first inning
and four in the second. They rode that success to a 14-10 victory, thanks in large part to the
bats of Fenski and Carly Knight.
Fenski again had a home run, three RBIs and three runs scored in the win. Knight hit her first
home run of the season, and added two RBIs and four runs scored.
"Offensively, I couldn't be any happier," Curran said. "Offensively, team for team, we're one of
the best, if not the best in our conference."
On Saturday, Buffalo State traveled to Cortland for a twin bill against the Red Dragons.
In the first game, Coneys was stellar, allowing three runs through six innings. Cortland's Amber
Corrigan was even better, however, as she held the Bengals to just one run on three hits
through seven innings. Stephanie Novo had the only RBI for the Bengals in the third inning of
the 3-1 loss.
In the night game, Buffalo State built a three-run lead by the third inning, but was unable to
hold off the Red Dragons. Cortland scored five unanswered runs, capped off by a three-run fifth
inning that put them up for good.
Fenski and Shelly Maggard each had two hits for the Bengals in the 6-5 defeat. Tilkins took the
loss, dropping her record to 2-3 on the season.
"Those losses were a little tough," senior Brieanna Brink said. "We should have won, but it will
come together."
Buffalo State was again on the road Sunday, this time in Ithaca.
The Bengals scored the first two runs of the game, but Ithaca plated two runs in the second
inning and another two in the third. In the top of the fourth inning, Buffalo State loaded the
bases with one out, but was only able to get one run home.
The Bombers pushed across an insurance run in the fifth inning to secure their 5-3 victory.
In the second game, Buffalo State again jumped out to an early lead, scoring three runs in the
top of the first inning. They pushed the lead to 5-1 by the third inning, but once again could not
hold the lead.
In the bottom of the fourth, the Bombers pushed across six runs, aided by two Buffalo State
errors. Ithaca pushed the lead to 9-5 going into the top of the seventh inning.
The Bengals plated three runners in the inning and had the winning run on base with two outs
before Maggard lined out to end the game. The 9-8 loss was the Bengals' fourth in a row.
Buffalo State's last six losses have come by either one or two runs.
"We just need to have fun out there and start playing like we're the better team," Fenski said.
Despite their recent loses, Buffalo State remains confident in their ability to win the SUNYAC
conference this season. Curran thinks that the team can reach another level of play, and if they
do, it will translate into the win column.
"I still know the team we have; we haven't shown up yet," she said. "There hasn't been a game
where all three parts of our game have come together. Our arch rivals are all coming up, so that
has kind of set us up to get on a streak, and once we get it, I don't think we're going to stop."
"I think we go in sometimes like maybe we're a little inferior to some of these teams and we're
definitely not."
The Bengals have a lighter schedule this week, with doubleheaders against Allegheny and
Fredonia the only games scheduled. The Bengals travel to Allegheny Thursday before visiting
Fredonia Saturday.
Senior Sam Strapason and Knight each ride hitting streaks into Thursday's games. Knight has a
nine-game hitting streak and has scored 10 runs in her last six games. Strapason has an eight-
game hitting streak, going 13-for-26 during that stretch.
"It's a failure sport and having a hit every game is very nice," Strapason said. "The people
around me are hitting well, too, so when you see people on your team being successful, it in
turn helps you."
Chris Dierken can be reached by email at dierken.record@live.com and on Twitter @cdierken.
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