A Quick Look
The SUNY Oneonta softball team took a pair from Brockport today in SUNYAC action to even its conference record at 5-5.  The sweep was the first for the Red Dragons this spring in conference play, as they continue to work themselves into playoff contention with eight games remaining.
 
The Inside Story
Oneonta didn't waste any time in jumping on the Brockport starter with three runs in the first inning.  Senior Dana Del Genio (New Hartford/New Hartford) led off with a single and came around to score when classmate Selena Ruiz (Westbury/W.T. Clarke) doubled to left field.  The next batter, senior Lauren Sabatino (Bayville/Locust Valley), then doubled Ruiz home for a 2-0 lead.  Sabatino advanced to third on a single by freshman Megan Palmatier (Bainbridge/Bainbridge-Guilford) and then scored on a sacrifice fly by junior Brooke Corbett (Bethlehem/Bethlehem Central).
 
Brockport (11-13, 2-8 SUNYAC) pulled to within a run with single runs in the second and third innings.
 
The Red Dragons pushed its lead to 6-2 with a three spot in the fourth inning.  Palmatier led off the inning with a double down the left field line and came around to score on a Corbett single.  Corbett came around to score on a double to right field by freshman Madison Capozucca (South Glens Falls/South Glens Falls).  Capozucca scored the final run of the inning when sophomore Amanda Sexton (Port Jervis/Port Jervis) singled down the right field line.
 
Brockport scored a run in the fifth, which was matched by Oneonta in the sixth on an RBI single by freshman Darian Wood (Mount Marion/Saugerties) that knocked in Corbett with the seventh run of the game.
 
Brockport scored its final run in the seventh for the final of 7-4.
 
Junior Alyssa Bluethgen (Commack/Commack) went the distance allowing three hits and two earned runs to pick up her sixth win of the season.
 
Oneonta grabbed a 2-0 lead after the first inning of game 2.  The Red Dragons loaded the bases with no outs and pushed a couple of runs across on a sacrifice fly by sophomore Caroline Koch (New City/Clarkstown South) and a walk to Corbett which forced in Ruiz with the second run.
 
Brockport's offense woke up during the next three innings to take a lead 4-2 heading into the bottom of the fourth inning.
 
Oneonta stormed back in the bottom of the fourth with six runs to take the lead for good.  The big hit in the inning came off the bat of Del Genio who cleared the bases with a double to left center field.  Koch then drove in Del Genio with a single up the middle and the final two runs scored on an RBI single by Palmatier.
 
Oneonta ended the game with two outs in the sixth inning after scoring four runs to give them its eight run advantage.  Palmatier was in the middle of the push smacking her first collegiate home run over the left field fence that drove in three runs.  With Corbett on third, Wood ended the game with a single to center field.
 
Capozucca came in to relieve starter Julia Calabro (Wantagh/St. John the Baptist) and earned her second win of the season.  Capozucca struck out a pair in 2-2/3^rd innings.
 
Just the Stats
Palmatier collected four hits today including three for extra bases while driving in five runs.  Sexton was 3-for-3 in game 1 with an RBI.  Del Genio and Ruiz each had three hits in game 2.  Corbett was 2-for-2 in game 1 and scored four runs on the day while driving in a pair.
 
What's Next
Oneonta's next scheduled contest is Thursday against Potsdam at SUNY Cobleskill beginning at 3pm.  The doubleheader is being moved up from Saturday due to anticipated bad weather forecasted for the weekend.