BROCKPORT, N.Y. – Cortland scored three times in the bottom of the sixth to break a 2-2 tie and the second-seeded Red Dragons defeated fifth-seeded New Paltz, 5-2, in the opening round of the SUNYAC Softball Tournament.

Cortland (25-14) will face Plattsburgh Friday at 11 a.m. during the tournament's second day. The double-elimination tournament continues through Saturday, with a final game Sunday, if needed.

The winning rally started with an Erin Wolstenholme (Oneonta) leadoff bunt single. An error on a sacrifice bunt by Courtney Kadish (Williamsville/Williamsville North) put runners on first and second and, with one out, Amber Corrigan (Montgomery/Valley Central) walked to load the bases. Diane Cork (Wayland/Wayland-Cohocton) then walked to force in the go-ahead run and, with two outs, Alicia Hibbard (Canastota) doubled to left center to drive in two runs.

New Paltz (20-19) took a 1-0 lead in the top of the fourth. Meg Brewer walked, went to second on an Andrea Feeney infield single and was bunted to third by Emily Mouillesseaux. Brewer scored on a wild pitch, with Feeney taking third. Cortland, however, turned a double play when the next batter grounded out to third and Feeney was thrown out trying to score after the throw to first.

Cortland went ahead 2-1 in the bottom of the fourth when Nicole Gallo (Mount Sinai) singled with one out and Wolstenholme hit a two-run homer to center. The Hawks tied the game in the fifth on a Brewer two-out RBI single.

Wolstenholme finished 2-for-3 with a homer, two RBI and two runs scored and Lucia Meola (Liverpool/Cicero-North Syracuse) was 2-for-4. Corrigan allowed four hits and two runs over seven innings for the victory. She walked seven batters, but also struck out seven.

For New Paltz, Amber Carozza went the distance in the circle and allowed five runs, two earned, in six innings. She gave up nine hits, walked three and struck out two.

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