April 24, 2015
 
The SUNY Oneonta softball team opened the final weekend of SUYNAC play Friday afternoon as it entertained the Gold Eagles of Brockport. The Red and White proved to be too powerful for the visitors on this cold, snowy day as the offense pounded out 11 hits en route to a 15-4, five-inning victory. The nightcap was postponed to Monday due to weather.
 
The air was cold, but Oneonta was hot from the start. Senior pitcher Rachel Hitt (Boonville/Adirondack Central) needed just five pitches to escape the first inning unscathed. In the bottom half of the frame, the bats were on fire. Rookie Ashley Lefebvre (Waterford/Waterford-Halfmoon) led off with a walk before moving to third when senior Nicole Marzillo (Bay Shore/Bay Shore) sent a line drive down the left field line for a double. Junior Traci Lichtenstein (Plainview/JFK) plated both runners with a double to deep right center. Senior Brianna Rivera (Pomona/North Rockland) smacked the team's third consecutive double, this one to center, to plate Lichtenstein. 
 
After Rivera moved to third on a passed ball, sophomore Katie O'Gorman (Clifton Park/Shenendehowa) drew a walk. The left fielder moved to second on a one-out error by the second baseman that scored Rivera. Sophomore Marlene Cuevas (Wappingers Falls/Roy C. Ketcham) followed up with a single through the left side that could not be handled the left fielder allowing her to move to second and pushing O'Gorman to third. The hit chased Brockport's starting pitcher after just 1/3 of an inning. Freshman Cori McFall (Pleasant Valley/Arlington) was the first to face the new pitcher in a pinch-hit appearance. She reached on an error by the second baseman that allowed O'Gorman to cross the plate and move Cuevas to third. Junior Kristyn Neroda (Pearl River/Pearl River), whom McFall batted for, reentered to run, stealing second before classmate Jamie Whittam (Saugerties/Saugerties) singled to short. Neroda Moved to third and Cuevas scored on an error by the first baseman.
 
After Hitt again shut down the Golden Eagles in the second, allowing just one hit, the offense went back to work. Lichtenstein drew a walk on four pitches to open the stanza. Back-to-back singles from Rivera and O'Gorman loaded the bases for sophomore Jenn Brocco. The third baseman worked a to a full count before walking in a run. Cuevas and Neroda eached each reached on fielder's choices where the lead runner was putout at home. Whittam made her second plate appearance with the bases juiced and two out. She sent a 2-2 pitch high to shallow right where a charging right fielder was unable to make the play. Whittam reached second on the error while Cuevas and Brocco scored. Lefebvre drove in Whittam and Neroda with a double to left before scoring when Marzillo forced the pitcher into an error.
 
Brockport was able to plate a pair in the top of the third. With one out and runners on first and second, Brianna Harris sent an RBI single up the middle. The next batter drove a run in on a groundout to short.
 
Oneonta responded immediately. Rivera opened the inning with a double to right before scoring on an O'Gorman double through the right side. The sophomore was able to move to third on a fly out before Cuevas forced the shortstop into an error to score.
 
Hitt finished off her outing by retiring the side in the fourth on just three pitches. Inserted as the designated player in the inning, freshman Gabriella Marino (Schenectady/Guilderland) reached on an error by the third baseman. Rivera moved her to second with a single to left, before a groundout put the runners on second and third. Marino crossed the dish on an error by the catcher.
 
Brockport added two more in the top of the fifth on a two-RBI double down the left field line by Lindsay Wachna.
 
The Red Dragons combined for six doubles, including a pair from Rivera. The catcher was perfect from the plate going 4-4 with an RBI and two runs scored. Lichtenstein made the most of her at-bats going 2-2 with two RBI and two runs scored. Lefebvre, O'Gorman and Cuevas each crossed the plate twice.
 
Marzillo, O'Gorman and Rivera push their hit streaks to five games, while Marzillo's streak of reaching base safely hits 24 games. Lefebvre's two RBI gives her seven multi-RBI games this year, while Rivera's day gives her a half dozen. Lichtenstein notched her 13^th multi-hit game, with Rivera recording her 10^th.
 
Hitt picks up her ninth win of the year allowing a pair of runs on three hits with five strikeouts.
 
The Red and White take on Geneseo tomorrow at noon before finishing its series with Brockport on Sunday at 11 a.m.