CLERMONT, Fla. – After falling 8-4 to Buffalo State in the day's first game, the Gators used a big first inning offensively and solid late-game pitching by Allison Cabo to defeat Kalamazoo 6-5 and salvage a doubleheader split on their penultimate day in the Sunshine State.

After the split, the Gators' record moves to 3-5 on the season.

Game One – Buffalo State 8, Allegheny 4
Six Buffalo State runs over the second and third innings proved too much for the Gators to overcome, as Allegheny's late comeback effort fell short.

In the bottom of the second inning, the Bengals sent nine hitters to the plate, and used four walks and a pair of doubles to jump out to a 4-0 lead.  Buffalo State then added two more runs in the third to take a six-run lead.

The Gators countered by taking advantage of a pair of walks to score their first two runs of the day in the top of the fourth.  Caitlin Nealer and Sadie Stuart began the frame by drawing back-to-back free passes, and each moved up 60 feet on a wild pitch.  The Gators scored their first run on an Allie Landowski RBI groundout, before Hannah Blinn's single to center plated Stuart to make it 6-2.

The Bengals added another run in the bottom of the fourth, before the Gators came back to score two more in the top of the fifth.  With one out, pinch hitter Hailey Marthaler reached on an error, before Belle Mazurik beat out a bunt basehit down the third base line.  After Alexis Ryan's single loaded the bases, Jaricka Simmerman, running for Marthaler, scored on a Nealer sacrifice fly.  A wild pitch would then bring Mazurik home, pulling the Gators to within 7-4.

In the top of the sixth, Allegheny looked primed to cut into the deficit even more, as Allie Landowski doubled and Taylor Massart singled to put runners at second and third with one out.  However, Buffalo State reliever Taylor Clements got back-to-back strikeouts to escape the jam.  The Bengals then scored their final run of the game in the bottom of the sixth, before the Gators went down in order in the top of the seventh to close it out.

Allegheny totaled seven hits in the loss, with Mazurik going 2-for-4 to lead the way.  Nealer started and went the distance in the circle, allowing seven hits and walking six with seven strikeouts.

Game Two – Allegheny 6, Kalamazoo 5
In the nightcap, the Gators shrugged off a slow start and took advantage of three Kalamazoo errors to earn the comeback victory.

Kalamazoo got off to a strong start, taking a 3-0 lead with one out in the top of the first on a three-run homer by Abby Anderson. 

The Gators then answered in a big way, sending eight hitters to the plate in the bottom of the first to score four runs.  With one out, Ryan reached on a walk, before Nealer singled to right.  Sadie Stuart followed with a grounder to short, but on Kalamazoo's attempt to cut Nealer down at second, the throw sailed wild, allowing Ryan to score and putting runners at the corners.  Landowski then doubled off the fence in right center to score Nealer, before Massart shot a single to right center to bring home Stuart and Landowski and give Allegheny a 4-3 lead.

Kalamazoo tied it at 4-4 with a run in the top of the third, before the Gators scored a pair of decisive runs in the bottom of the fourth.  After Mazurik led off with a walk, Ryan looked to sacrifice her to second.  The Kalamazoo catcher pounced on the bunt in front of the plate, but the throw sailed wide of first base, and rolled to the fence.  Mazurik easily scored, while Ryan also made it around the bases to score standing up to put the Gators in front 6-4.

Kalamazoo scored an unearned run in the top of the fifth to make it a one-run game, and then saw each of its first two runners reach base to start the sixth.  However, Gator reliever Allison Cabo got out of the jam by inducing a pop up and a pair of ground outs to escape with a scoreless frame.

In the top of the seventh, the Hornets got a leadoff single, before Cabo got the final three outs to close out the two-inning save.

Miranda Arison started in the circle and worked five innings, shaking off the three-run first inning by allowing just one run and four hits over her final four frames to earn the win.  Cabo earned her first career save by working two scoreless frames and allowing two hits and one walk.

The Gators picked up the victory despite their offense accounting for just three hits, one apiece by Nealer, Landowski, and Massart.

Allegheny will now close out its six-day stay in Florida with a pair of games on Saturday.  At 9 a.m., the Gators will take on Luther College, before ending the trip with a 1 p.m. contest against Keene State.