BUFFALO, N.Y. – SUNY Geneseo sophomore utility Leah VanDerwarker recorded four hits as the Knights split a pair of dramatic State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) games against host Buffalo State, defeating the Bengals, 6-5, in eight innings in game one before falling, 6-5, in game two.  

GAME 1 – GENESEO 6, BUFFALO ST. 5 (8 inn.)

• The Knights jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning when junior catcher Katherine Hayes lined an RBI double to right field, but Buffalo State moved ahead with two runs in the bottom of the second inning.
• In the top of the third, senior outfielder Samantha Seeger tied the game with a solo home run, her second of the year, making it 2-2.
• Buffalo State regained the lead with two runs in the bottom of the fourth, but Geneseo came back to tie the game in the sixth as sophomore outfielder Leah VanDerwarker and first-year pinch hitter Lauren Kersch each tallied RBI singles, making it 4-4 and forcing extra innings.
• In the top of the eighth, junior infielder Taylor Riccardi led off with a double and came home three batters later when junior pinch-hitter Stephanie Afonso lined a sacrifice fly to left field, giving the Knights a 5-4 lead. Sophomore pinch-hitter Anna Johnston followed with an RBI single to give Geneseo a two-run lead.
• Sophomore pitcher Elizabeth Eberhardt entered in the eighth inning to shut down the Bengals, earning the save as sophomore Olivia Fazio caught a line drive and picked off the potential tying run at second base for a game-ending double play.

GAME 2 - BUFFALO ST. 6, GENESEO 5

• Buffalo State jumped out to a 2-0 lead with a pair of runs in the bottom of the first inning, but the Knights responded in the top of the second as VanDerwarker and first-year pitcher Lauren Kersch each hit their first career home runs to go back-to-back and tie the game. 
• Geneseo took a 3-2 lead in the top of the fourth inning. VanDerwarker led off with a double and came around to score when Kersch laced a single to center field. 
• Buffalo State jumped tied the game, 3-3, in the bottom of the sixth, but VanDerwarker came through for the Knights again, driving in a pair of runs with a two-out double to left-center in the top of the seventh and giving the Knights a 5-3 lead. 
• In the bottom of the seventh, Buffalo State strung together four hits and a walk to plate three runs and earn the walk-off win to take the split. 

QUICK FACTS 

• VanDerwarker finished 4-for-8 with a home run, a double, four RBI and four runs scored in the two games combined. Kersch and senior outfielder Samantha Seeger each hit solo home runs as well. 
• Sophomore infielder Audrey Minton went 4-for-8 with three runs scored for the Knights while Hayes and Seeger each finished with three hits over the two games combined.
• Sophomore pitcher Mattie Woodard earned the win in game one, tossing 5.2 innings and allowing three earned runs on six hits while striking out a career-high 10 Bengals. Eberhardt earned her first career save. 

WHAT'S NEXT? 

Geneseo moves to 6-3 on the season with a 4-2 mark in SUNYAC play, to remain a game up on the pack in the SUNYAC West. The Knights will host Brockport on Monday, April 19 for a crucial conference doubleheader beginning at 3:00 p.m.