BUFFALO, N.Y. -- The SUNY Oneonta softball team concluded the regular season with a SUNYAC road sweep at Buffalo State, Saturday afternoon. The Red Dragons closed out the regular season 17-20-1 overall and 10-8 in the SUNYAC while the Bengals ended 23-13 overall and 12-6 in the conference. Oneonta will go into the SUNYAC double elimination tournament as the six seed and will face one-seeded New Paltz in the first game of the first round on Thursday, May 11, at 10 am.

Sophomore Julia Serena (White Plains/Valhalla) recorded her 18th double of the season in game one's victory, breaking the programs single season record for doubles. Serena ended the regular season leading the SUNYAC in doubles and extra base hits. During the same game, sophomore Angelina Scalere (Ardsley/Ardsley) picked up her fifth save of the season and broke the single season record for saves which was previously set by her last year. Scalere also leads the conference in saves.

Game 1: Oneonta 8, Buffalo State 6
Serena's double happened in the first where she scored junior Sara Cartier (Cicero/Cicero-North Syracuse). With Serena and junior Delaney Haley (Levittown/Division Avenue) on base, graduate student Megan Palmatier (Bainbridge/Bainbridge-Guilford) laid down a sacrifice bunt that led to a throwing error by the pitcher that allowed Serena and Haley to cross home and Palmatier to move to second. Palmatier advanced to third off a single by senior Marissa Nagel (Averill Park/Averill Park), then touched home on a grounder from freshman Abigail Silliman (Rensselear, N.Y./Columbia) to give Oneonta a 4-0 lead.  

The Red Dragons added one more run in the second inning when Cartier laid down a sacrifice bunt to score junior Gianna Cancelleri (Naples, FL/Washingtonville (NY)), who reached base on a double to right center.  

The Bengals made it a two-run game in the bottom half of the second off a two-run double from Deme Kellogg and a sacrifice fly from Sydney Shuta. Buffalo State tied the game in the fifth with a two-RBI single from Caitlyn Parsons.  

In the seventh inning, Oneonta put together a three-run rally. Senior Adriana Fiori (Newtown, CT/Brookfield) led the the inning off with an infield single, then stole second and advanced to third on the throw by the Bengals' catcher. Cartier brought in Fiori with a sacrifice line out. Haley then singled up the middle and advanced to second on a passed ball before Serena hit a two-run blast over the left center field wall to put the Red Dragons ahead, 8-5.  

Buffalo State kept their hopes alive and loaded the bases with one out in the seventh. Oneonta then made a call to the bullpen for Scalere who allowed one run on a fielder's choice then ended the game on a pop up. 

Haley finished 3-for-4, scored twice and stole one base. Serena went 2-for-4 with three RBI and scored twice. Nagel was 2-for-4 in the win and Cartier went 1-for-2 with two RBI and two stolen bases.  

Junior Marissa Dionisio (Sayville/Sayville) (6-9) received the win after pitching 6.1 innings, striking out two, and allowed six runs, five earned, off eight hits. Scalere (5) picked up the save after facing the last two batters.  

Madison Lucas (13-5) pitched a complete game, struck out two, and allowed eight runs, six earned, off 10 hits.  

Game 2: Oneonta 3, Buffalo State 0
Serena broke the scoreless tie of game two with her second home run of the day to left field in the fourth inning.

The Red Dragons looked to score again when they loaded the bases in the fifth with two outs, after Silliman singled while Haley and Serena walked. Palmatier stepped to the plate and singled through the left side to score Silliman and Haley, giving Oneonta a 3-0 lead.  

The Bengals had a couple moments with multiple runners on base, but the Red Dragons and sophomore Cadence Brennan (Niskayuna/Niskayuna) were able to work out of the jams. After back-to-back singles for Buffalo State, Brennan forced a fly out and pop out before she struck out Shuta to get out of the inning. In the fifth, two runners got aboard with one out, but Cartier and Silliman caught a couple line drives to keep the shutout victory intact.

Serena finished the game 3-for-3 with a home run, and Palmatier went 2-for-3 with two RBI and a stolen base.

Brennan (5-6) earned the win with a complete game shutout, struck out three and allowed seven hits.  

Kaitlyn Schnitzer (9-6) was tagged with the loss after pitching 5.0 innings, allowing three runs on four hits. Grace Albano pitched the last two innings and allowed three hits.  Read Full Article