The SUNY Oneonta softball team fell to the Ithaca Bombers, 4-3, in the second elimination game today, as they were knocked out of the NCAA Division III tournament on Day 2 of the Northeast Regional.  The Red Dragons turnaround season came to a close with a record of 30-11, which is the greatest season they have had since 2004.  The one season turnaround was the program's greatest and one of the most improved in Division III history.
 
"What an outstanding season we had," said head coach Sara Headley.  "We have nothing to hang our heads about.  We played hard to the end.  I am extremely proud of the way our team played this weekend and all season long."
 
A sacrifice bunt by Julianne Vincent in the top of the 7^th inning scored Nina Lindberg to give Ithaca (26-13) a 4-3 lead, entering the bottom of the inning.  The Bombers then held Oneonta in the bottom of the inning to take the win and advance into the Regional final tomorrow against Rowan University, who hasn't lost a game yet.  Ithaca needs to defeat the Profs twice tomorrow to advance to the Super Regional next weekend.
 
After the Bombers pushed a run across in the top of the first, Oneonta countered with a pair of runs to lead 2-1 after one inning.  The Red Dragons loaded the bases with no outs on an error, a single and a walk.  A walk to Marlene Cuevas (Wappingers Falls/Roy C. Ketcham) forced in the first run and then a single by Brianna Rivera knocked in the second run.
 
The Bombers then turned a double play to cut down Traci Lichtenstein at the plate while also putting out Rivera at second base.  Ithaca escaped with no further damage.
 
A two-out rally in the top of the third produced two runs for Ithaca, as they took a 3-2 lead.  A single by Rachel Dell'orto knocked in the two runners from second and third base.
 
Still trailing in the bottom of the fourth by a run, freshman Katie O'Gorman (Clifton Park/Shenendehowa) changed that with one swing of the bat, as she drove a ball well past the left field fence to knot the game at 3-3.
 
Jamie Whittam led Oneonta with a pair of hits.
 
Freshman Sabrina DeAngelis (East Meadow/Kellenberg Memorial) went the distance allowing seven hits and two earned runs while striking out a pair.  DeAngelis finishes her rookie season with 18 wins, which ties her for second most in a single season all-time.  Her 116 strikeouts for the season is second best for a single season all-time.
 
In today's first game, the Red Dragons jumped out to an early lead with two runs in the bottom of the first inning.  Whittam led off with a single through the left side and was sacrificed to second by Jenn Brocco.  Designated player, Lichtenstein, then stepped up to the plate and roped a double to right field to drive in Whittam with the game's first run.  For Lichtenstein, it was her 43^rd run batted in on the season, as she continues to add to her single season record for RBIs.  The run scored for Whittam was her 38^th, which put her second all-time for runs scored in a single season.
 
The next batter for Oneonta was Cuevas, who smacked a double to right field, which drove in Lichtenstein with Oneonta's second run.
 
DeAngelis cruised through the first three innings, retiring the first nine batters she faced.  She finished the game conceding five hits including a two-run homer, but struck out three in picking up her 18^th win of the season.
 
Lichtenstein and Rivera had two hits apiece in the game to lead the offense.  Rivera drove in the Red Dragons' eventual game-winning run in the third inning with a single to right center, which drove in pinch runner Nicole Brieva from second base.