ONEONTA, N.Y. -- The SUNY Oneonta softball team secured the doubleheader sweep against Oswego in their SUNYAC opener, Sunday afternoon. The Red Dragons won game one, 7-1, then shut out the Lakers game two with a five-inning mercy rule, 11-0. Freshman Emily Brown (Westbury, N.Y./Clarke) ended the day 3-for-3 with two triples and four RBI, senior Delaney Haley (Levittown, N.Y./Division Avenue) went 3-for-3 and scored three runs in game one, and three Red Dragon pitchers combined for 14 strikeouts and allowed zero earned runs on the day. Oneonta improved to 6-10 on the season, 2-0 in the SUNYAC, while Oswego dropped to 4-12 overall and 0-4 in conference play.  

Game One: Oneonta 7, Oswego 1
Haley reached first on a bunt to lead off the bottom of the first then stole second to get into scoring position. Two outs later, junior Sophia Mangone (Ardsley, N.Y./Ardsley) roped a line drive to the right field fence for an RBI triple that scored Haley.

Oneonta added two more runs to their lead in the third inning. Senior Gianna Cancelleri (Naples, FL/Washingtonville (NY)) started it off with a single and stole second during Haley's at-bat. Haley laid down a bunt to reach first safely, then stopped running halfway to second to intentionally get caught in a rundown that allowed Cancelleri to score while she reached second safely. Later in the inning, Haley crossed home on a passed ball.

The Red Dragons made it a 6-0 game in the bottom of the fifth with a three-run, two-out rally. After Haley reached first for the third time of the game, senior Adriana Fiori (Newtown, CT/Brookfield) doubled down the right field line to bring her home. Fiori reached home on a passed ball during junior Julia Serena's (White Plains, N.Y./Valhalla) at-bat, yet she would have scored either way as Serena blasted a solo home run over center field a couple pitches later.

Oswego scored their lone run in the top of the sixth on a fielder's choice, but Oneonta got the run back in the bottom half of the inning. Senior Sara Cartier (Cicero, N.Y./Cicero-North Syracuse) hit a double down the right field line and came home off Brown's triple to right center.

Fiori, Serena, Mangone, and Brown all recorded one hit and an RBI. Senior Marissa Dionisio (Sayville, N.Y./Sayville) (1-4) received the win as she pitched 6.0 innings, struck out five and allowed one unearned run on five hits. Junior Angelina Scalere (Ardsley, N.Y./Ardsley) pitched the final inning and struck out the final two batters she faced.

Fiona Higgins (4-6) was tagged with the loss after pitching the complete game, striking out six, and allowing seven runs, six earned, on nine hits. Mackenzie Carlson and Kira Wright each recorded two hits for the Lakers.

Game Two: Oneonta 11, Oswego 0 (5 innings)
The Red Dragons scored in all four innings they batted in. Mangone brought in Fiori on a sacrifice fly in the first inning before they added four more runs in the second. Freshman Ella Stewart (Orchard Park, N.Y./Orchard Park) led off the second with a single down the left field line. Brown hit another triple to right center to score Stewart and later crossed home on a fielder's choice. Fiori singled to left to bring Cancelleri in then scored the final run of the inning off Serena's single to center field.

Freshman Ava Thys (Fairfax, Va./James W. Robinson Secondary (Va.)) hit an RBI double to left center in the bottom of the third and came home when Brown hit a single to center. Senior Sarah Paige (Fort Ann, N.Y./Fort Ann Central) pinch-ran for Brown and made it home on a Fiori bunt. Mangone led the bottom of the fourth inning off with a triple to right field and scored when Thys singled to center field. Freshman Rhianna Smith (Clifton Park, N.Y./Shenendehowa) reached base with a walk and later came home on Brown's sacrifice fly. Thys added the final run of the game for the Red Dragons off a Laker fielding error.

Fiori finished game two 3-for-4 with two RBI and two runs, Brown went 2-for-2 with three RBI. Thys, Stewart, and Mangone all recorded two hits. Thys had two RBI and scored twice, Stewart scored two runs, and Mangone had an RBI and scored once.  Sophomore Anna Torgersen (Chester, NJ/Mendham) (1-1) pitched the complete game shutout with seven strikeouts, allowing only three hits in the win.

Chelsea Sellars (0-6) received the loss after pitching 2.0 innings, striking out one, allowing eight runs, seven earned, off eight hits. Maria Lutz pitched 2.0 innings, struck out one, and allowed three runs, two earned, on five hits.

The Oneonta softball team recognized the day as 'Orange Day' and wore orange ribbons and wristbands to spread awareness for Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Before the start of game two, Red Dragon assistant coach John Speranzi threw out the honorary first pitch. About 12 years ago, our 33-year assistant softball coach, Speranzi was diagnosed with MS. With the assistance of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, he was able to purchase his Zoomer chair which has reinvigorated his life and allowed him to continue coaching for Oneonta.

The team raised over $220 in donations during the doubleheader that will go to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. The National MS Society is there to provide the support, resources and information patients with MS need to move their life forward. If you would like to help make a difference and donate to the National MS Society you can click here.

Oneonta is back in action Monday, April 8, against Cortland starting at 11 am at the Red Dragon Softball Stadium. Read Full Article