The SUNY Oneonta softball team defeated both Sage Colleges and Saint Vincent College yesterday to run its record to 5-1 on the young season.  Solid pitching and plenty of offense was the measure of the day, as the Red Dragons have won five straight.
 
Oneonta 9, Sage Colleges 5
A five-run third inning for Oneonta gave them the cushion they needed in fighting off a late charge by the Gators in the game.  All the runs were scored with two outs and were accounted for with a two-run home run by sophomore Dana Del Genio (New Hartford/New Hartford) and a three-run home run by classmate Kaycee Simpson (Blossvale/Camden Central).
 
After a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth inning for the Gators, Oneonta added three more in the top of the fifth to run its lead to 9-2.  The big hit in the inning came off the bat of junior Rebecca Wentink (Maybrook/Valley Central), who smacked a double down the right field line to score junior Cori McFall (Pleasant Valley/Arlington) and freshman Jade Meehan (Halcottsville/Roxbury Central).
 
Freshman Alyssa Bluethgen (Commack/Commack ) pitched six innings striking out five to pick up her first collegiate victory.
 
Oneonta 6, Saint Vincent 3
The Red Dragons pounded out 15 hits led by senior Katie O'Gorman (Clifton Park/Shenendehowa)'s 4-for-4 performance from the leadoff spot.  Sophomore catcher Selena Ruiz (Westbury/W.T. Clarke) added three hits and Del Genio and sophomore Alyssa Garrison (Clifton Park/Shenendehowa) each had two hits.
 
The game was tied 3-3 entering the top half of the sixth inning where Oneonta plated three runs to grab its lead.  After loading the bases with no outs, O'Gorman stepped in and drove a double to the gap in right center to score Brooke Corbett (Bethlehem/Bethlehem Central/Delmar) and Killeen Martin (Bay Shore/Bay Shore).  The final run of the inning was driven in by Garrison who singled to center field to score Ruiz.
 
Oneonta scored single runs in each of the first three innings and had a 3-2 lead before Saint Vincent tied the game in the home half of the fourth.  Senior Marlene Cuevas (Wappingers Falls/Roy C. Ketcham), Ruiz and freshman Kate Jencarelli (Roseland, NJ/West Essex ) each drove in a run.
 
Senior Amanda Graziano (Riverhead/Riverhead) picked up her first win of the season in relief of starter Julia Calabro (Wantagh/St. John the Baptist).  Graziano threw 4 1/3 innings allowing two hits and striking out four batters.
 
Oneonta has Wednesday off and will complete its spring trip to Florida with two games each on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.