CORTLAND, N.Y. – Kyrstin Lekki hit a solo homer with one out in the bottom of the eighth inning as Buffalo State defeated Cortland, 3-2, in the championship game of the State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) Softball Tournament.

The Bengals (29-12) won their first league title since 2000 and their fourth in the 26-year history of the tournament, and they receive an automatic berth into the NCAA Division III playoffs. Cortland (40-6) advanced to the league tournament championship round for the 12th consecutive season and will await a probable at-large NCAA berth. The NCAA tournament selections will be announced on Monday (May 4) at approximately 11 a.m. on www.ncaa.com.

Cortland, the designated visiting team in the contest, tied the game at 2-2 in the top of the seventh inning. Emily Ringen (Pompton Plains, NJ/Pequannock) led off with a single, went to second on a groundout and scored on Jackie Begnoche's two-out single to second. Buffalo State stranded a runner on third with two outs in the bottom of the seventh and the teams moved into extra innings for the second straight game.

Buffalo State pitcher Jenna Frieling retired the side in order in the top of the eighth. In the bottom of the inning, Cortland's Katie Finch (Amsterdam/Broadalbin-Perth) struck out the first batter before Lekki hit a shot over the fence down the left field line to end the game. The homer was Lekki's third in as many games and Buffalo State's eighth four-bagger in four tournament games.

Cortland struck first in the top of the third. Rose Morrison (Miller Place) singled with one out, stole second, went to third on a Brooke Weidman (Perkinsville/Wayland-Cohocton) infield single and scored on a Donnalyn Cross (Binghamton/Chenango Valley) single to left center.

The Bengals answered in the bottom of the third. Nicole Maher drew a one-out walk and advanced to third on a Jolene Banach single. Banach took second on the throw, and Nicole Sabuda was intentionally walked to load the bases. The next batter popped out, but a wild pitch allowed Maher to score.

In the fifth, Banach reached on a one-out error and went to second on a groundout. Marissa Mariano singled down the left field line to score Banach with the go-ahead run.

Frieling improved to 10-9 with the victory, giving up six hits and two runs in eight innings. She struck out three and walked one. Finch dropped to 22-4 on the season with the loss. She allowed only five hits and three runs, two earned, and struck out nine batters. She issued six walks, two intentional.

Sabuda, who won twice as a pitcher and was Buffalo State's starting catcher in other contests, was named the tournament MVP and was joined by Lekki on the all-tournament team. Three Cortland players – Cross, Finch and senior Crystal Carlson (Lancaster/Iroquois) – made the all-tournament team as well along with Brockport's Lindsay Szymanski, Ona Halladay and Stephanie Geer and Oneonta's Bethany Truax, Jessica Bartalsky and Jessica Iuliano.


Box Score

SUNYAC Softball Tournament Page