A Quick Look
After nearly 400 days since they last took the field, the SUNY Oneonta softball team opened its 2021 season at rival Cortland and came away with a split of a doubleheader.  After dropping the opening game 7-2, freshman pitcher Lauren Weber (Sayville/Sayville) sparkled in her debut and the bats woke up, as Oneonta took the nightcap 11-4.
 
The Inside Story
In game 2, Oneonta took advantage of six Cortland errors while compiling 11 hits in the victory.  Senior Kristen Collins (Hicksville/Holy Trinity) and freshman Delaney Haley (Levittown/Division Avenue) led the attack with two hits apiece.  Sophomore Anna Ciccarelli (Guilderland/Guilderland) and freshman Gianna Cancelleri (Campbell Hall/Washingtonville) each drove in a pair of runs.
 
Rookie hurler Lauren Weber (Sayville/Sayville) went 6 innings in her debut picking up her first collegiate victory.  Weber kept Cortland off balance allowing only one hit through the first five innings before allowing three runs (2 earned) in the sixth inning.  Weber struck out three and allowed five hits.
 
Senior Katherine Davies relieved Weber to start the seventh and threw the final inning.
 
Oneonta scored a single run in the first inning, two in the third and one more in the fourth to lead 4-0 after five innings.  Three Cortland miscues led to the two runs for Oneonta in the third inning.  A dropped fly ball with two outs allowed junior Megan Palmatier (Bainbridge/Bainbridge-Guilford) and Haley to score in the inning.
 
After Cortland cut Oneonta's lead to 4-3 after the sixth, Oneonta bounced back a posted a seven-spot in the top of the seventh to win going away.  Cancelleri drove in the first runs of her career with a single that scored Ciccarelli and classmate Victoria Hines (Levittown/Division Avenue) with the first runs of the inning.  Ciccarelli came back later in the inning and had a two-out, two-run double that scored senior Caroline Koch (New City/Clarkstown South) and Haley.
 
In today's opening game, Oneonta was held scoreless through six innings before plating a pair in the seventh.  Freshman Victoria Hines (Levittown/Division Avenue) blasted a two-run double with two outs to score Haley and classmate Tori Brower (West Islip/West Islip).
 
Just the Stats
Haley finished the day with three hits and a pair of stolen bases.  Collins, Koch, Hines and Palmatier all collected two hits each.
 
What's Next
With multiple schedule changes over the weekend, Oneonta will now travel to Plattsburgh to play a doubleheader on Thursday after the Potsdam doubleheader was postponed.  Oneonta will then host Cortland on Saturday for its home opener beginning at noon.