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MEADVILLE, Pa. - The Allegheny softball team split its first home doubleheader of the season, defeating Buffalo State 9-0 in the opener, before the Bengals got revenge with a 9-1 win in the nightcap.

In the opener, the Gators broke open a one-run ballgame with eight runs over the fifth and six innings, while Caitlin Nealer earned her second straight complete game shutout, allowing just three hits with six strikeouts in six innings.  In the nightcap, the Bengals jumped out to a 6-0 lead after two innings, while the Gator bats struggled, totaling just two hits in the defeat.

With the split, Allegheny's record moves to 5-12 on the year, while Buffalo State left Meadville with an 8-6 mark.

The day's first game began as a pitcher's duel, as both teams remained scoreless over the first three frames.  The Bengals managed to put runners in scoring position in each of the first two innings, but Nealer escaped trouble both times, enroute to her 15th career shutout.

Allegheny finally broke through in the bottom of the fourth.  Katrina George led off with a double off the fence in centerfield, and was promptly driven home on a Sadie Stuart two-base hit just two pitches later.

The Gators would add on to the lead in the fifth.  Shannen Segiel led off the frame with a single to center, and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Halea Hayden.  With two outs, Hannah Blinn hit what appeared to be a routine grounder to the right side, but the throw was dropped at first base, allowing Segiel to cross the plate and put the Gators in front 2-0.  Allegheny took advantage of the extra out, as George followed with an opposite field blast over the fence in right center for her fourth homer of the year to give the hosts a 4-0 lead.    Stuart then walked, and was promptly brought home by a Maureen Pallone two-bagger, upping the lead to 5-0.

The Gators continued to add on in their next at bat.  With one out, Segiel reached on an error, and moved to third on a pinch hit single by Hailey Marthaler.  Belle Mazurik followed with a bunt single to load the bases, before Blinn laced a single to right center to score two.  With two outs, George lofted a fly ball just shy of the warning track in right field which was dropped, bringing home Mazurik and Blinn to close out the 9-0 win.

Seven different Gators recorded at least one hit, led by George, who continued her torrid run at the plate by going 3-for-4 in addition to reaching on the error.  The Gator offense proved opportunistic, as the team took advantage of four Bengal errors to score seven unearned runs. Nealer earned her fourth win of the year in the circle, extending her scoreless streak to 15 innings in recording her 15th career complete game shutout.  

In the nightcap, the Bengals struck early, with five of their first six batters recording a hit, including two doubles, to take an early 3-0 lead in the top of the first.  

The Gators got one run back in the bottom of the first, as Hayden led off with a single, moved to second on a Mazurik bunt, and scored on a single by George to cut the deficit to 3-1.  However, Buffalo State answered by sending eight batters to the plate in the top of the second to score three more times and take a 6-1 lead.  

Gator reliever Miranda Arison limited the damage through the middle innings, keeping the Bengals off the board over the next four frames while allowing just three hits.  The Gator bats were unable to replicate their efforts in the day's opener, however, as Buffalo State starter Jordan Sarat held the hosts hitless from the second inning on, allowing just four walks and facing only three batters over the minimum.

The Bengals closed the game out with three runs in the top of the seventh, highlighted by a one-out, two-run inside the park homer to the gap in right center by Jordan Dudish to cap the eight-run victory.

Dana Bacharach started and took the loss for the Gators, working the first third of the opening frame, before giving way to Arison, who threw a career-high 6.2 innings, allowing six runs (four earned) with three strikeouts and no walks.  The Bengals totaled 16 hits in the nightcap, led by a 3-for-4 effort from Stephanie Novo and a two-hit, three-RBI effort by Taylor Swiatek.  Sarat went the distance to earn the win, allowing just two first inning singles and striking out three.

Allegheny now faces a busy week, with four doubleheaders over the next seven days.  The stretch kicks off on Saturday, when the Gators open North Coast Athletic Conference play with a 1 p.m. doubleheader against Denison at the Robertson Athletic Complex.