It may have taken a while, but the weather finally cooperated for the SUNY Oneonta softball team today, as they played its first home games of the season against Buffalo State.  The Red Dragons used the friendly confines to sweep the Bengals by the scores of 9-7 and 3-2.
 
Juniors Sabrina D'Angelis and Amanda Graziano (Riverhead/Riverhead) each recorded complete game victories for Oneonta (11-10, 2-2 SUNYAC).  Graziano was solid for a second straight outing in earning the win in the nightcap.  She struck out five batters and allowed only five hits while pitching out of a couple of jams to run her season record to 5-3.
 
Oneonta broke the scoreless game up in the home half of the third inning on a sharp single to left field that brought in freshman catcher Selena Ruiz (Westbury/W.T. Clarke) from third base.  Ruiz singled to left to start the inning and made her way to third on a pair of ground outs.
 
The Red Dragons tacked on another run in the fourth when junior Katie O'Gorman (Clifton Park/Shenendehowa) went deep over the left field fence on a 1-0 pitch.  It was her second round-tripper of the season.
 
Buffalo State (9-13, 1-5 SUNYAC) got one back in the fifth inning when Julia Blujus scored from third on a ground out to second base by Laura Crooks.
 
Oneonta came right back in the home half of the fifth to gain its two-run advantage back.  O'Gorman had the big hit once again, as she roped a two-out double to right field to drive in Jamie Whittam (Saugerties/Saugerties) from second base.  Whittam beat out a slow roller to third base with one out and then stole second.
 
In the opener, the Bombers would score all of its runs in the second inning.  The big blow coming off the bat of Allie Colleran, who hit a two-out grand slam over the left field fence.
 
The Bengals rallied in the top of the seventh inning.  Blujus drew a leadoff walk and then went to second on an infield single by Melissa Woods.  With one out, Crooks laid down a bunt that was dropped at first base, which allowed Blujus to score while moving Woods to third base.
 
With runners at the corner, Graziano struck out Chrissy Rennard and then got Jean Stahl to ground out to third to end the game.
 
The opening game started with some miscues that led to a few unearned runs by both squads.  The two teams combined for seven runs with the host coming out with a 4-3 advantage.
 
Three straight hits to start the game for the Bengals led to their first run.  Stephanie Novo, who had opened the game with an infield single came around to score on a single by Rennard.  An error by the right fielder allowed Crooks to move to third base.  Crooks came into score on an attempted double steal where the throw by the catcher soared into center field.  Rennard move up to third base and scored on a sacrifice fly to right field by Lexi Haley.
 
Oneonta took advantage of a pair of miscues by Buffalo State in the bottom of the inning that allowed them to score four runs.
 
Whittam led off the inning with a single up the middle before moving to second base on an illegal pitch.  She went to third base on a ground out to second by sophomore Ashley Lefebvre (Waterford/Waterford-Halfmoon) and scored on a wild pitch.
 
O'Gorman then singled, stole second and went to third on a throwing error by the catcher and came into score on a single by Jennifer Brocco (Kingston/Kingston) for the second run.
 
After Cori McFall (Pleasant Valley/Arlington) was hit by a pitch, Ruiz reached on an infield single, but the throw from the third baseman got away from the first baseman, which allowed both Brocco and McFall to score.
 
Both starting pitchers settled in and each cruised through the middle innings.
 
Buffalo State tied the game in the sixth inning on an RBI single by Stahl that drove in Haley, who smacked a one-out double to deep right field.
 
Oneonta exploded for five runs in the home half of the sixth inning fueled by a two-out, bases-clearing double by Lefebvre that scored Whittam, Alyssa Garrison (Clifton Park/Shenendehowa) and Dana DelGenio (New Hartford/New Hartford).
 
After the first two batters of the seventh were retired, the Bengals rallied to score three runs and had the bases loaded before the final out was made on a force out at third base.  The big hit in the rally was a double by Rennard that brought in a pair of runs.
 
D'Angelis struck out six Bengals in her seven innings to earn her third win of the season.
 
Oneonta will be home gain tomorrow against Fredonia beginning at noon.