SUNY Oneonta softball can call themselves the 2014 SUNYAC regular season champion with a sweep of visiting Fredonia today, 2-1 and 8-2. With the victories, the Red Dragons will host the SUNYAC tournament which begins on Thursday, May 1st. Oneonta has won two regular season championships and three tournament titles in the programs history. Oneonta hosted the 2001 tournament in which the team was both regular season and tournament champion. The programs most recent tournament title came in 2004.

Head Coach Sara Headley said after the clinching game today "I could not be more proud of this team. We have come a very long way and through a lot of hard work and sacrifice we were able to make it happen".

In the opening game of the afternoon, all the runs were scored in the first inning with Fredonia (9-18/6-12 SUNYAC) jumping out to a 1-0 lead. Kim Lotocki singled to right field and advanced to second on a ground out to Jamie Whittam. Lotocki would later score from second on a throwing error.

Oneonta (25-9/15-3 SUNYAC) answered back in the bottom of the inning. With two outs and a walk to Jennifer Brocco (Kingston/Kingston), Marlene Cuevas (Wappingers Falls/Roy C. Ketcham) homered over the left field fence to provide the two runs.

The Blue Devils looked to threaten in the top of the second with bases loaded and one out, but could not get one across to tie the game.

Oneonta's Sabrina DeAngelis (East Meadow/Kellenberg Memorial) and Fredonia's Kelsey Gannett, settled in as they dueled it out the last five innings. Each pitcher went the distance, walking two and striking out four. DeAngelis allowed three hits while Gannett allowed five.

The second game, once again, saw Fredonia jump out to a 1-0 lead after the top of the first. Maddy Stavish doubled to right center and went to third on a passed ball. A fielding error allowed Stavish to score.

Oneonta would bounce back as they tied it up in the bottom of the second. Nicole Marzillo led off with a double down the left field line and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Kristyn Neroda. Katie O'Gorman (Clifton Park/Shenendehowa) would bring Marzillo home with a single through the left side.

The Blue Devils would addd their second run in the top of the third before the Red Dragons broke it open with four runs in the bottom of the inning. Fredonia's run came an Alyssa Morgan single that scored Kate Nicholson who also singled and moved around the bases by a wild pitch and ground out. Oneonta started the scoring off with a Brianna Rivera single to left field to bring home pinch runner Nicole Brieva. Four consecutive singles by Marzillo, Neroda, O'Gorman and pinch hitter Kelly Graham brought home the other three runs for the 5-2 lead.

Three runs in the bottom of the sixth allowed Oneonta to take a 8-2 lead. A Cuevas double down the left field line scored Brocco, who had singled, and moved Traci Lichtenstein to third. O'Gorman would bring home the final two runs on a single up the middle.

O'Gorman went 3-for-4 with five runs batted in in game 2 while DeAngelis picked up her 15th win of the season. DeAngelis, Katie O'Flynn and Rachel Hitt allowed five hits and one earned run in the combined victory.

Oneonta will play in the opening game on Thursday, May 1st at 9 a.m. Their opponent is still undetermined as three games were rained out today and will be played tomorrow.

Today's game also supported cancer research and education through the "StrikeOut Cancer" campaign. The American Cancer Society and the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) started this initiative more than ten years ago and has raised thousands of dollars to support the fight against cancer. Both, Fredonia and Oneonta's players, wore pink jerseys in honor of this event. The two teams held placards with the names of people in their lives who have been affected by cancer. Prior to the start of the first game, Mrs. Grace Speranzi, a breast cancer survivor, threw out the first pitch. The teams took donations and shirts were sold with all proceeds being donated to the American Cancer Society as it continues its lifesaving efforts to prevent cancer, save lives and diminish suffering from the disease through research, education, advocacy and service.