POTSDAM, N.Y.—SUNY Cortland (11-5, 2-0 SUNYAC) swept a doubleheader from the SUNY Potsdam softball team (2-12, 0-1) in the first SUNYAC contests of the season. The Red Dragons took game one 8-0, followed by a 16-2 win in game two.
 
The Red Dragons started quickly in the opener, scoring three runs in the top of the first. After a passed ball and a ground out brought in the first two tallies, freshman designated player Kimberly Westenberg (Massapequa Park, N.Y./Massapequa) doubled in the third run. Cortland added fourth run on a fielder's choice in the fourth.
 
The Red Dragons then put the contest away with a four-run fifth. Sophomore second baseman Halle Wright (Ballston Spa, N.Y./Ballston Spa) doubled in the first run of the inning. Senior left fielder Megan LaMont (Amsterdam, N.Y./Amsterdam) drove in the next with a ground out to the pitcher. Graduate student centerfielder Gina Meyers (Liverpool, N.Y./Liverpool) added a two-run triple to close the scoring.
 
Senior Chesnie York (Corinth, N.Y./Corinth) (2-4) allowed five runs on five hits and five walks in the first 4.1 innings for the Bears. Graduate student Sierra Ashley (Ogdensburg, N.Y./Lisbon) allowed three runs, two earned, on three hits in the last two-thirds of an inning. Senior Karlee Weeden (Maybrook, N.Y./Valley Central) (4-3) allowed just a hit and a walk, while striking out six in the five innings to pick up the shutout for Cortland.
 
Meyers was a perfect 3-for-3 with three runs and an RBI for the Red Dragons.
 
 
The second game was tight until the final two innings. Westenberg drove in a run in the on a ground out in the first and single up the middle in the third. It remained 2-0 until the top of the sixth.
 
Freshman third baseman Shannon Scotto (Putnam Valley, N.Y./Lakeland) made it 3-0 on a single to right. Meyers then plated another run on a fielder's choice. Sophomore first baseman McKenna Barry (Clifton Park, N.Y./Shenendehowa) knocked in two more on a single down the left field line and it was 6-0.
 
The Bears answered with two runs in the bottom of the sixth. Sophomore shortstop Kaylee Dobransky (New Britain, Conn./CREC Academy of Science and Innovation) drove in sophomore second baseman Kiara Lovejoy (Lansing, N.Y./Lansing) with a double to left center for Potsdam's first run. Junior third baseman Alexa Abbatantuono (Corinth, N.Y./Corinth) then drove in senior left fielder Emily Beck (Lowville, N.Y./Beaver River) to make it a 6-2 contest.
 
Cortland then broke the game open on in the top of the seventh, scoring 10 runs on six hits and four Bears' errors.
 
Sophomore Lexie Cottrill (Skaneateles, N.Y./Skaneateles) (0-3) allowed six runs, two earned, on 11 hits in 5.2 innings, while striking out four for the Bears. Junior Anna Brown (Ellenburg Depot, N.Y./Northern Adirondack) allowed 10 runs, one earned, on six hits in the last 1.1 innings.
 
Westenberg (4-1) went the distance for Cortland, allowing two runs on six hits and racking up 11 strikeouts.
 
Lovejoy was 2-for-4 with a run for Potsdam.
 
Sophomore catcher Julz Koch (New City, N.Y./Clarkstown South) was 3-for-4 with two runs and an and RBI to lead Cortland. Meyers closed her day with a 2-for-5, three run, two RBI performance. Westenberg was 2-for-5 with a run and four RBI. Barry was 2-for-3 with two RBI and junior shortstop Tori Reich (Cornwall, N.Y./Cornwall) also went 2-for-3 with a run.
 
The Bears are back in action tomorrow when they host Oswego State for two beginning at noon.