Buffalo State’s softball team is ranked third in the State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) preseason coaches poll. The Bengals received 104 points and two first place votes, behind Plattsburgh (117) and Cortland (110).

The Bengals, who finished 27-11 a season ago, return six starters and have added several impact newcomers to the roster. Anchoring the returnees will be the junior tandem of third baseman Jolene Banach (Cheektowaga/ Maryvale) and pitcher Aimee Fisher (Hamburg/ Frontier), who were both selected First Team All-SUNYAC and Second Team All-Region in 2007. Banach led the Bengals with a .407 batting average and had 12 doubles, three homeruns and 22 RBIs. Fisher posted a 14-4 record with a 2.01 ERA and set a school record with 161 strikeouts.

Coach Sandra Hollander enters her 20th season with a record of 455-266-2 (.631) and ranks in the top-25 on the all-time wins list. The Bengals will open their season with 10 games at the US National Training Center in Clermont, Fla., March 20-26.