WINTER HAVEN, FLA. – Meaghan Kohler's (Franklin, NJ/Warren Hills Regional) three-run homer capped a five-run rally in the top of the seventh as Cortland defeated Staten Island, 8-5, at the Rebel Spring Games. The Red Dragons (5-3), ranked fifth nationally in Div. III, opened the day with an 8-0 loss to Illinois Wesleyan

Illinois Wesleyan 8, Cortland 0 (Box Score)

Illinois Wesleyan broke open a close game with six runs over the final two innings. Danielle Burge had a pinch-hit, two-run homer in the sixth and Sara Daley hit a grand slam in the seventh for the Titans (6-2), who finished 32-11 and were an NCAA tournament team last spring.

Illinois Wesleyan opened the scoring with two runs in the first on a Hannah Bowen RBI triple and Allie Riordan RBI groundout. Titans' starter Jenna Noland pitched a four-hit shutout with four strikeouts and no walks.

Cortland threatened in the third with a Courtney Kadish (East Amherst/Williamsville North) leadoff double, but Noland retired the next three hitters. Down 4-0 in the bottom of the sixth, the Red Dragons put runners on second and third with two outs on hits by Diane Cork (Wayland/Wayland-Cohocton) and Jamie Bucci (Tarrytown/Sleepy Hollow) before a pop-out ended the inning.

Riordan finished 3-for-4 and Bowen was 2-for-4 to lead the Titans. Jamie Lachall (Aston, PA/Sun Valley) suffered the loss for Cortland after allowing two runs on four hits and a walk in four innings. She struck out one.

Cortland 8, Staten Island 5 (Box Score)

For the second time during its Florida trip, Cortland scored five runs in the top of the seventh to rally for a victory. Trailing 5-3, the Red Dragons started their comeback with an Erin Wolstenholme (Oneonta) walk. Cork then tripled to the gap in right center, and Alicia Hibbard (Canastota) singled through the right side to drive in the tying run.

Following a fielder's choice force out, pinch runner Makaylee Dowd (Saratoga Springs) stole second and went to third on a Leah Saavedra (Walworth/Wayne Central) single. Kohler, who entered the game as a pinch hitter in the fifth, blasted a shot over the left field fence for her second homer of the season and an 8-5 lead.

Staten Island (0-2) made things interesting in the bottom of the seventh. Danielle Locke reached on a one-out error. With two outs, Chyanne Gilliam singled to left and Brittany Smith bunted for a single to load the bases. Cortland pitcher Alexandrea Flint (Dalton/Keshequa), however, got the next hitter to ground out to short to end the game.

Flint, who entered the game in relief of starter Sarah Salamone (Liverpool/Cicero-North Syracuse) with one out and two on in the sixth, improved to 2-0 with the win. Jacqueline Cautela went the distance for Staten Island.

Each team scored three runs in the first inning. Cortland opened with walks by Jamie Bucci (Tarrytown/Sleepy Hollow) and Wolstenholme, followed by a Cork RBI double and a Hibbard RBI groundout. In the bottom of the first, the Dolphins scored on a Stefanie Solari RBI single and a two-run single by Christina Tufano. CSI took a 5-3 lead in the third on an RBI fielder's choice by Christina DeCarlo and a Cautela RBI infield single.

Cork went 2-for-4 with a triple, double and two RBI, Hibbard was 2-for-4 with two RBI and Saavedra finished 2-for-4 with a double and RBI for Cortland. Wolstenholme ended 1-for-2 with two walks and two runs scored. Cautela led Staten Island with a 3-for-5 effort. Tufano was 2-for-4 with two RBI and Solari went 2-for-3 with a walk and RBI.

Cortland concludes its Florida trip Friday with games versus Washington (Md.) at 9 a.m. and St. Scholastica  at 1 p.m. in Auburndale.