Softball’s trip to sunny Florida overcast by poor results

Dave DeLuca/ The Record

Buffalo State Softball will begin its regular season games this Saturday, March 1.

Emmanuel Rodriguez, Staff Writer

The Bengals surely enjoyed the Florida weather this spring break, but the warm weather wasn’t especially nice to Buffalo State as it dropped 8 of 12 games in Clermont in Central Florida.

Buffalo State started the trip off well by beating the Union Dutchmen on a walk-off error after a knock by junior utility player Danielle Szymkowiak in the eighth inning. Later that day, the Clarkson Golden Knights walked off in the ninth inning for the win against the Bengals.

The following day, the Bengals got another extra inning victory over the Buena Vista Beavers after a clutch sacrifice fly by Szymkowiak and triple by sophomore infielder Allie Block. Later that day, however, the Tufts Jumobs defeated the Bengals 11-3 in six innings.

After a couple days off, the Bengals split a doubleheader, dropping the first game to the Wisconsin-Whitewater Warhawks, 8-2. In the second game, junior utility player Nicole Adams went 3-for-4 at the dish to help the Bengals beat the Wesleyan Cardinals, 6-3.

The Bengals then dropped three straight to the University of Chicago Maroons, Luther Norse and the Elmhurst Blue Jays.

They got back on track on against the Calvin Knights after sophomore infielder Cassandra O’Hern hit a walk-off single to right field to earn a 6-5 victory.

Buffalo State finished the trip with losses to the Southern Maine Huskies, 11-3 and the Middlebury Panthers, 11-2, in five innings.

Thus far this season, the Bengals have received great production from senior outfielder Laura Crooks. Crooks is batting .446 in 56 at-bats with 15 runs. Crooks has also been making a case for a gold glove, yielding a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage. O’Hern is second on the team in average with .389 in 54 at bats. O’Hern leads the team in RBIs with 17 and has three home runs.

The Buffalo State Bengals (4-12) will open up conference play against SUNYAC foe Oswego Lakers (4-6) on Friday, March 31.

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