Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Oneonta, N.Y. – A six-run sixth inning helped the SUNY Oneonta softball team earn a split at home with the visiting Red Dragons of Cortland today, taking the first game 8-6. Cortland won the second game 6-1. The win for Oneonta marks the first time since 2005 that they have beaten their Red Dragon counterparts.
 
Cortland (13-9/4-2) got on the board in the third and fourth to take a 2-0 lead before Oneonta tied it in the bottom of the fourth. Freshman Marlene Cuevas (Wappingers Falls/Roy C. Ketcham) singled to right field and junior Brianna Rivera (Pomona/North Rockland) got aboard due to a fielding error by the second baseman. Kristyn Neroda (Pearl River/Pearl River) laid down a beautiful bunt for a single to load the bases. After a pitching change, Katie O'Gorman (Clifton Park/Shenendehowa) laced a single up the middle to bring home two runs and tie the game at 2-2.
 
Cortland would go ahead 6-2 as they brought four runs across the plate in the top of the fifth.
 
Oneonta (14-4/5-1) would answer the call in the sixth. Consecutive walks put runners on first and second. Rivera would get on base, once again, by error and would move to second in the process, bringing home Nicole Marzillo (Bay Shore/Bay Shore), to cut the lead to three. A second error in the inning loaded the bases for O'Gorman. O'Gorman earned a walk on four straight pitches to bring home the second run of the inning. With one out, Jamie Whittam (Saugerties/Saugerties) singled to bring home two more runs to tie the game. Traci Lichtenstein (Plainview/JFK) added two more runs on a single up the middle to give Oneonta an 8-6 lead, their first lead of the game.
 
Junior Rachel Hitt (Boonville/Adirondack Central) would close the door on Cortland as she earned her sixth win of the season in facing three batters.
 
Whittam and Neroda each had a pair of hits. O'Gorman had three runs batted in and Cuevas came across the plate twice.
 
In the second game of the afternoon, Oneonta took a 1-0 lead after the first inning. Whittam earned a walk and advanced to second on a ground out by Jennifer Brocco (Kingston/Kingston). Marzillo brought Whittam home with a single up the middle.
 
Cortland would score two runs in the second, third and fifth innings to take the victory. Cortland had six hits in the game including a home run to deep centerfield by Meaghan Kohler.
 
Cortland starter Sarah Salamone pitched a complete game, scattering four hits and allowing one earned run.
 
Oneonta will be in action again this coming Tuesday, April 8^th, when they host Rensselaer for a doubleheader starting at 3 p.m.