Post Classifieds
Inconsistency plagues Bengals
Team heads into final week on three-game losing streak
By Tony Fiorello
On April 26, 2012
Buffalo State ended this week on a three-game losing streak after winning two of its previous three
matches.
Throughout this season, a trend has emerged on the Bengals - inconsistency. Buffalo State has gone
through multiple stretches where it would win multiple games in a row, and then lose multiple games in
a row.
"Everything's been hit or miss for us this season, and we don't know why," senior shortstop Kyrstin Lekki
said. "We still have some work to do to get back to playing consistent again."
The Bengals (17-15, 9-5 SUNYAC) started their recent stretch of games by splitting a pair of games with
Penn State Behrend, losing and winning by identical scores of 3-2.
Sophomore infielder Shelly Maggard put the team up by two with a two-run home run in the second
inning. Penn State Behrend then tied the contest in the third inning courtesy of a wild pitch and a run
scored on a ground ball to second base. Sophomore pitcher Aleesha Williams walked in the game-
winning run in the fourth inning.
Maggard ended the game with two hits, a home run and two RBIs, while freshman Marcella Ossa went
two-for-three at the plate.
In the nightcap, Buffalo State and Penn State Behrend were tied at one run apiece in the fourth inning
when freshman utility player Taylor Swiatek hit an RBI double to give the team the lead it wouldn't
relinquish. Ossa ended the match with two hits and also collected a double and an RBI, while freshman
pitcher Maddie Coneys recorded her 10th win of the season.
The Bengals again split a doubleheader on Saturday against Fredonia, winning 4-0 in the morning and
losing 10-1 at night. The team needed only five hits to score the four runs in the first game, as Lekki and
juniors Lindsay Goff and Breanna Fenski each drove in runs. Williams pitched a complete-game shutout
in the affair, allowing only six hits while striking out two.
The second game saw Fredonia score 10 runs on only seven hits, as the Blue Devils took advantage of
five wild pitches. Lekki led the Bengals with three hits, including two doubles and batted in the team's
only run. The two doubles also tied Katie Cleary's single-season school record.
On Sunday, the team fell in back-to-back games to Ithaca by scores of 11-2 and 11-6. The first game was
a display of offensive prowess by Ithaca, as the team scored three runs in the first inning and six runs in
the fifth. Williams provided the team's only score of the day with a two-run homer in the fourth inning.
In the nightcap, the Bengals found themselves down 7-0 after the first three innings and never
recovered. Although a three-run home run by junior Sam Strapason, a two-run homer by Maggard and
an RBI single by Swiatek gave the team hope for a comeback, it wasn't enough, as the Bombers scored
an additional four runs in the sixth inning.
After winning just two of six contests, it was apparent that the team's biggest area of concern was on
the mound.
"We've been hitting well and we've made a few errors in the field, but those things happen when you
play," Lekki's twin sister Kaylee said. "But I think our pitching needs to step up. We definitely need to get
our confidence back up because we have a big week ahead."
Interim head coach Marie Curran agreed.
"For the most part, the girls played well, but I think our pitching staff has been trying too hard," Curran
said. "Instead of letting our defense make plays for them, they've been putting pressure on themselves
to do more."
The Bengals will take on Nazareth on senior day in their final home game of the regular season today
before they square off against Geneseo and Brockport on Friday and Saturday, respectively.
"Nazareth is always a competitive team," Curran said. "We're going to have mixed emotions that day
because they will be the last home games for the Lekkis, but it's going to be exciting to play them as
well.
"Geneseo and Brockport are two of our biggest rivals. We'll be real fired up to face them this weekend
too."
Tony Fiorello can be reached by email at fiorello.record@live.com.
Get Top Stories Delivered Weekly
Recent The Record News Articles
Runge's on-court progress parallels off-court success
Buffalo State men's basketball coach Fajri Ansari remembers his decision to recruit Seth Runge out of Springville-Griffith Institute ...
Bashore Baltimore bound after finding success in fashion field
Kelsey Bashore opened her email over spring break and glanced over one particular message several times to confirm what she was ...
Ladies win OT thriller to close season
After being eliminated from the playoffs last week, the Buffalo State lacrosse team knew Saturday's game at Potsdam would be its last ...
Discuss This Article
GET TOP STORIES DELIVERED WEEKLY
FOLLOW OUR NEWSPAPER
LATEST THE RECORD NEWS
- We've Moved to www.buffstaterecord.com!
- Obama divulges new higher education initiative during visit to UB
- Ailing Podolefsky steps down as president
- SUNY appoints Cohen interim president
- President Podolefsky announces leave to fight cancer
- Rappers put Pepsi in a bind
- Congrats to grads: take next step with gratitude
RECENT THE RECORD CLASSIFIEDS
OUTSIDE THE LINES
- A Story To Sing About
- The Gap in Gum Care: Why Caring For Your Teeth’s F...
- Top Tips for Signature Scents and Better-Smelling Laundry
- A Dog Trainer’s Top Tips to Support Pets Through Life S...
- Clear the Air of Indoor Pollutants This Spring
- Stroke & Dementia in Black Men: Tips for Staying Healthy...
- Hispanics and African Americans at Higher Risk for Eye...
- African Americans at Higher Risk for Eye Disease
- Infinity Kings: Final Book In A Favorite Fantasy Series
- What You Need To Know About Keratoconus and the iLink...
FROM AROUND THE WEB
- 7 Reasons Renting an RV Should Be On Every Family’s S...
- Don’t Let Diabetes Shortchange Your Golden Years
- No Child is Forgotten By Marine Toys for Tots
- Sweeten Your Springtime Salads With Healthy Chilean Grapes
- Young Author Translates 4,000-Year-Old Text to Reveal...
- Keeping Cool and Energy-efficient Amid America’s “...
- Addressing Sarcopenia with a Healthy Diet
- Subway’s New Wraps Elevate Eating on the Go
- Family Teacher Conference Topics Beyond Academics
- Youth Take Down Tobacco
COLLEGE PRESS RELEASES
- Shoff Promotions Comic Book & Sports Card Show
- Semiconductor Research Corp unveils 2024 Research Call, $13.8M Funding
- Charles River Associates Opens Second Scholarship Cycle, Expands to the UK
- BLUMHOUSE AND AMC THEATRES LAUNCH FIRST-EVER HALFWAY TO HALLOWEEN FILM FESTIVAL
- THE GEN Z IMPERATIVE: LISTEN TO FEELINGS AND GIVE GEN Z A VOICE
