The first full week of the 2013 season is in the books for the SUNY Oneonta softball team as they were swept today at Buffalo State. Oneonta (3-9/1-3 SUNYAC) split its conference opening doubleheader at Fredonia after spending nearly a week in Florida to start the season.
In today's doubleheader, the Red Dragons lost 9-1 in five innings before dropping the second game, 10-7. Oneonta fell behind 7-0 in the first inning of the first game and managed only five hits including a pair of doubles, one each by Stephanie Gaska and Nicole Marzillo.
In game 2, it was Oneonta that jumped out to a 5-1 lead after two innings. Gaska hit a double to drive in the game's first run. Gaska scored Oneonta's second run of the inning when the Buffalo State left fielder made an error on a single by Kalyn Deso. Deso scored the third run when the catcher made an error on a play at the plate.
The Red Dragons tacked on two more runs in the second aided by a fielding error and a wild pitch. Junior Tricia Kendziera followed a leadoff single by Meaghan Foster with a double to put two runners in scoring position. Foster scored on a fielding error by the centerfielder, which allowed Gaska to reach base. With the bases loaded, Kendziera came in to score on a wild pitch. The inning ended on a double play with Gaska being thrown out at the plate by the right fielder.
Buffalo State rallied with a combined nine runs in the fourth and fifth innings to take a 10-6 lead. Oneonta added an unearned run in the seventh for the final. Sophomore Rachel Hitt took the loss for Oneonta, as she fell to 1-5 on the season.
In yesterday's doubleheader with Fredonia, Oneonta made a critical error that led to a pair of unearned runs in the bottom of the sixth inning in a 2-1 defeat. The Red Dragons tried to rally in the seventh, but could push across the equalizer.
In game 2, Oneonta scored five runs in the second inning en route to a 6-4 victory. Kendziera led the offense with a pair of hits including a double and one run batted in. Marzillo added two hits and an RBI as well. Hitt went the distance and allowed seven hits and four unearned runs while striking out a season high seven batters.
The Red Dragons came back north with a pair of wins on its eight game, season opening trip to Clermont, Fla. Oneonta defeated Macalaster College and Houghton College in its second and eighth games respectively.
In the 4-2 win against Macalaster, Deso had three hits and an RBI while Kendziera had a pair of hits and two runs batted in to lead the Red Dragon attack. Sophomore Katie O'Flynn threw seven innings of five-hit ball striking out four batters to record her initial win of 2013.
The victory against Houghton came in five innings with the final of 9-1. The Red Dragons made the Highlanders pay for its miscues in the field to score four runs in the fourth inning. Deso and freshman Hunter Bassett each had two RBI hits in the inning. Marzillo added a pair of RBI's as well for Oneonta.
The Red Dragons are scheduled to play this coming Tuesday at King's College for a doubleheader beginning at 3pm.
