Post Classifieds
Bengals lock up fourth seed
Vengeful Bengals turn attention toward Geneseo
By Tony Fiorello
On May 4, 2012
Buffalo State's softball team clinched a berth in the SUNYAC Playoffs last week after winning three of its
last six matchups.
Still, the Bengals weren't satisfied with how they finished the regular season. They head into the
postseason just two games over .500.
"I think we played very well overall against Nazareth, but we didn't get the timely hits that we needed
against Geneseo," senior shortstop Kyrstin Lekki said. "Against Brockport, they did some good things,
but so did we. At least we were able to come away with the split."
The Bengals (20-18, 10-8 SUNYAC) opened the final week of the regular season with a doubleheader
against Nazareth. Lekki and her twin sister, pitcher Kaylee, were both honored before the start of the
first game, as it was "Senior Day" at Bengal Field.
The team then took the field and promptly swept the Golden Flyers by scores of 12-5 and 9-1. In the first
game, with the score tied at one in the bottom of the fourth inning, the Bengals scored six runs on six
hits to put themselves in the lead for the rest of the game. They followed that up with five more runs in
the sixth inning.
Junior Breanna Fenski recorded one of her two hits by knocking a grand slam over the fence in the sixth
inning. Fellow Junior Sam Strapason also had two hits, including a two-run home run. Kyrstin Lekki went
three-for-four at the plate and batted in two runs, and Kaylee Lekki picked up the win by allowing only
six hits and three earned runs.
In the second game, Buffalo State took advantage of five errors by Nazareth to score nine runs on just
six hits. Kyrstin Lekki hit her 19th double of the season, breaking Katie Cleary's single-season school
record set in 2000. Strapason finished the game two-for-three at the plate and scored two runs, while
freshman pitcher Maddie Coneys nailed down the win, allowing just two hits in a five-inning complete-
game.
Coneys has been a revelation for the Bengals this year. She had a 12-6 record with a 4.10 ERA. She has
also recorded 65 strikeouts against 54 walks.
"I've been really impressed with her maturity as a freshman," Kyrstin Lekki said. "She knows how to take
responsibility for her actions. If she struggles, she handles it very well."
Interim head coach Marie Curran agreed, saying that her development in other leagues helped her
adjust to the collegiate level.
"I think her background, with her playing summer ball, really helped her prepare for this level," Curran
said. "She always wants to get better."
On Friday, the Bengals were swept by Geneseo, losing 4-2 and 2-1. After sophomore pitcher Aleesha
Williams drove in the first game's first run, Geneseo scored four runs on four hits in the fourth inning to
take a 4-1 lead.
Junior outfielder Brieanna Brink had an RBI single in the fifth inning and the team had runners on second
and third base with one out in the seventh, but the Bengals' rally fell short when a pop out and a ground
out ended the game, sealing the win for Geneseo.
The late game saw Buffalo State fall behind 1-0 and, similar to the first game, had a chance to put itself
in the lead by loading the bases with no outs in the top of the fifth inning. Only one run was scored,
however, on an RBI fielder's choice by Brink.
After falling behind 2-1, the team again had an opportunity to go ahead with two batters on base in the
final inning, but couldn't pull out the win. Coneys took the loss, pitching a complete game while striking
out seven batters.
The Bengals clinched the fourth seed in the SUNYAC tournament by splitting a pair of decisions with
Brockport on Saturday, winning the first game 6-3 and dropping the second match 8-0. In the first
contest, with the Bengals up 1-0, Fenski hit a three-run home run in the fifth inning to put Buffalo State
in front by four.
Buffalo State extended its lead to six in the top of the sixth inning but allowed three to the Golden
Eagles in the bottom half. However, Coneys retired the side in the seventh to pick up the win. Coneys
allowed five hits and had eight strikeouts, while Kyrstin Lekki went two-for-three with two RBIs and
junior catcher Lindsay Goff went two-for-four at the plate.
The nightcap saw Brockport score eight runs in the final two innings to cruise to victory. The Bengals
were outhit 11-3 in the game.
The team has certainly grown from the outfit at the start of the season to where they are today. Curran
said that as time went on she learned a few things about her team.
"Their desire to become successful is great," Curran said. "Our players have a passion to work hard every
day, and the attitude to become the best players that they can be has really grown."
Kaylee Lekki also believed that talent made a difference.
"Last year, we had only about four people who could consistently hit well in our lineup," Lekki
said. "Now, I can honestly say that hitters one through nine can hit well."
With a rematch with Geneseo in their sights, the Bengals have headed into the playoffs with dreams of
winning their fifth SUNYAC championship.
"We left a lot of runners on base against them the first time we played them," Kyrstin Lekki said. "We'd
have situations where we'd have the bases loaded with no outs and we wouldn't score any runs, so that
can't happen if we want to win a championship.
"Ever since I've been here, we've always played good in the playoffs, and I hope we can keep doing that
this year," Lekki continued. "I think we can definitely make a run at a SUNYAC title."
Tony Fiorello can be reached by email at fiorello.record@live.com.
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