ROCHESTER, NY – Sarah Simmons, Marissa Tortora, Gabriella Corasaniti and Allison Smith had three hits each to lead a strong come-from-behind effort for the Nazareth College softball team in the first of two games against Buffalo State but the Bengals held on for an 8-7 win in the opener and went on to post a 9-1 win in the nightcap to sweep the non-conference matchup.

Buffalo State (17-11) held a 6-0 lead after scoring three times in the top of the fifth inning but Nazareth (8-16) rallied to score three in the bottom of the fifth. The Bengals added two more runs in the top of the sixth before another rally by Nazareth accounted for four runs in the bottom half of the inning but the rally fell one run short in the 8-7 loss.

In the fifth, Smith started the three-run inning with a single to shortstop and Tortora followed with her third hit of the game to put two runners on base. Senior Madison Joseph doubled to right centerfield to score the first two runs of the inning.

With one out, Simmons singled to put runners on the corners and later, with two outs, Corasaniti singled through the left side of the infield to score Joseph to trim the lead to 6-3.

In the sixth inning, sophomore Janelle Walters reached on an error to start the inning and Smith followed with a single. With two outs junior Kristen Simmons reached on an error that allowed a runner to score and Sarah Simmons followed with a long home run to center for three runs batted in and cutting the lead to 8-7.

Corasaniti tossed the complete game and scattered 12 hits in the loss but was 3-for-4 at the plate with a run batted in. Smith and Tortora were both 3-for-4 and Sarah Simmons was 3-for-3 as the Golden Flyers connected on 14 hits in the game.

In the night cap, the Bengals exploded for six runs in the second inning after taking a 1-0 lead in the first for a commanding 7-0 early lead.

Nazareth scored a run in the third as Tortora drove home junior catcher Jessica Mount with an infield single for the lone Golden Flyers run in the game.

Nazareth was limited to three hits in the game with Tortora collecting two with a 2-for-2 game.

The Golden Flyers return to action Thursday with another non-conference doubleheader at home against Alfred State before returning to Empire 8 play Saturday at home against Alfred University.