April 17, 2015

Fredonia, NY – The SUNY Oneonta softball team opened up a weekend road swing with a spilt at Fredonia on Friday afternoon. The Red and White responded to a 2-0 game one loss with five runs in the both the second and fifth innings of game two en route to a 10-2, 5-inning win. Rookie Ashley Lefebvre (Waterford/Waterford-Halfmoon) provided a spark in the Red Dragon lineup knocking in a trio of runs, scoring a pair of her own, and swiping a base.

Game 1:
Oneonta surrendered a single run in both the second and third innings in the day-opening loss. With runners on first and second and one down in the second, the Blue Devils plated the first run with a double to left center. The second run can on another RBI single, this time with the bases loaded and one down.

The offense recorded five hits in the contest, each by a different batter, while forcing the hosts into a trio of errors. They threatened in the top of the fifth while one out and the bases loaded, but the next two batters fouled out and flied out, respectively.

Sabrina DeAngelis (East Meadow/Kellenberg Memorial) suffers the loss and moves to 10-4. She was charged with both runs, on seven hits while striking out two and walking three.

Game 2:
Oneonta bounced back in the nightcap, starting in the second inning.

Sophomore Jenn Brocco started the barrage reaching on an error by the shortstop with two outs. Junior outfielder Kristyn Neroda (Pearl River/Pearl River) followed up with a single down the left field line, moving Brocco to second. Second baseman Jamie Whittam (Saugerties/Saugerties) loaded the bases with a single to shortstop, before Lefebvre cleared the bases with a double deep to left field.

A single by Nicole Marzillo (Bay Shore/Bay Shore) set up a two-out, runners on the corners situation for designated player Traci Lichtenstein (Plainview/JFK). During the junior's at-bat, Marzillo and Lefebvre executed a double steal where Lefebvre bolted and slid into home and Marzillo moved to second. Marzillo went on to score when Lichtenstein reached on a fielding error by the shortstop.

Fast forward to the top of the fifth, when the Red Dragon bats went back to work. Sophomore Marlene Cuevas (Wappingers Falls/Roy C. Ketcham) ripped a single to the gap in left center to start the inning, chasing the pitcher as a result. Shelby Cleaveland (Oneonta/Oneonta), who was in the lineup as a pinch runner, advanced to second on a sac bunt by Brocco, then to third when Neroda reached on a fielding error by the third baseman. The junior then stole second, before Whittam reached on a fielder's choice due to thee putout of Cleaveland at home. Lefebvre drew a walk to load the bases for senior Nicole Paolino, who also drew a walk to score Neroda.

With the bases still loaded, Lichtenstein took a single to left field that scored Lefebvre and Whittam. Senior Brianna Rivera (Pomona/North Rockland) loaded the bases for the third time in the inning with a single. Lichtenstein and Paolino scored on a throwing error by the shortstop that allowed sophomore Katie O'Gorman (Clifton Park/Shenendehowa) to reach base to put the Red Dragons in position for the run-rule win.

Brocco picks up her second win of the season as she surrendered two runs on four hits with a strikeout. Senior Rachel Hitt (Boonville/Adirondack Central) pitched a perfect fifth inning in relief striking out one.

Overall:
Rivera went 4-8 on the day; Whittam and Marzillo each went 2-5, scoring a pair and one run respectively. Lefebvre recorded a hit in both contests, driving in three and crossed the plate twice. Neroda went 2-3 in the night cap and crossed the plate twice on the afternoon.

Whittam holds the team's longest current winning streak at four, with Lichtenstein, Lefebvre and Rivera each on a three game streak. Marzillo extended her streak of reaching base to 17.

Lefebvre's three RBI game is her fourth multi-RBI game of the year. With a pair of hits in the second game, Lichtenstein now has a team-high 11 multi-hit games.  

Oneonta now sits at 18-8, 7-3 in conference play. They return to action tomorrow when they take on Buffalo State at noon.
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