Fifth-seeded Buffalo State (28-10) opened the 2005 SUNYAC Championships with a 9-3 win over fourth-seeded Oneonta this morning, before falling 6-1 to the top-seeded host Cortland this afternoon.

The Bengals got a hit from every player in the lineup to knock off fourth-seeded Oneonta (18-15), 9-3, to open the double-elimination tournament.

The Bengals took a 4-1 lead in the fourth inning on RBI doubles by Nicole Sabuda (Orchard Park/Orchard Park) and Lindsey Matheis (Hamburg/Williamsville South), and a two-run double by Laurie Hutten (Tonawanda/Kenmore West). Oneonta closed the gap to 4-3 in the bottom of the fourth with a two-run homerun, but Buffalo State bounced back with another four-run inning in the fifth. The Bengals added another run in the sixth and pulled away for the six run win.

Hutten finished 2 for 3 with three RBIs. Alyssa Brosius (N. Tonawanda/N. Tonawanda) was also 2 for 3 with a run scored. Heidi Rammacher (Angola/Lakeshore) was 1 for 3 with two RBIs. Kristen Scheffold (Lancaster/Lancaster) earned her 12th win of the season on the mound, allowing eight hits and three runs, striking out six.

In the second game, Cortland (29-9) hit a pair of homeruns, scoring two runs in the third inning, three in the fourth, and added one more in the fifth.

Buffalo State's only run came on a solo-homer by freshman Jordan Banach (Cheektowaga/Maryvale) in the sixth inning. Melissa Balsavage (Depew/Depew) took the loss on the mound, allowing seven hits and five runs before being replaced by Sabuda with two outs in the fourth inning.

Buffalo State will continue its quest for the automatic bid the the NCAA playoffs tomorrow at 10 a.m. when it will face No. 3 Plattsburgh.