WINTER HAVEN, FLA. – The Cortland softball team posted a pair of convincing victories at the Rebel Spring Games with a 9-1 triumph over Eastern Connecticut State and an 8-0 shutout versus Skidmore. Both games were called early due to the eight-run rule, with the first game lasting five innings and the second game six innings.
 
Cortland (3-5) will be idle Wednesday and returns to action in Winter Haven Thursday versus Centenary (N.J.) at 10 a.m. and Ramapo at 12:15 p.m.
 
Cortland 9, Eastern Connecticut St. 1 (5 inn.) (Box Score)
 
Sarah Salamone earned the win in the circle for the Red Dragons while handing the Warriors (4-1) their first loss of the season. Salamone scattered six hits and walked one over five innings. She struck out one and gave up one unearned run.
 
Cortland struck early with four runs in the bottom of the first. Jamie Bucci (Tarrytown/Sleepy Hollow) and Diane Cork (Wayland/Wayland-Cohocton) led off with walks and advanced to second and third after a flyout. Erin Wolstenholme (Oneonta) drove in Bucci with an infield single and, with two outs, Carrie Stoddard (Liverpool) lined a two-run single through the left side. Andrea Schoonmaker (Poughkeepsie/Marlboro) followed with a walk and Courtney Kadish (East Amherst/Williamsville North) hit an RBI single to left center.
 
The Red Dragons scored twice in the second on a strange play that featured two Eastern Connecticut errors. With two outs and Cork on first, Wolstenholme singled up the middle. Cork attempted to take third on the play, and the relay throw by the second baseman sailed over the third baseman's head. Cork then ran for home, and the throw in from left field foul territory hit Cork and rolled away. Wolstenholme, who was running on the play, came all the way around to score as well and Cortland led 6-0.
 
Eastern scored its run in the top of the third. Taylor Smyth led off with a single, was bunted to second by Samantha Bardos, moved to third on a two-out single by Alyssa Hancock and scored on a throwing error when a throw trying to get Hancock stealing second sailed into center field. Hancock finished the game 2-for-3, while Smyth and Gina Georgetti each were 1-for-2.
 
Cortland scored on a two-out rally in the fourth when Wolstenholme singled and Devynn Wilder (Oswego) hit an RBI double down the left field line. The Red Dragons invoked the eight-run rule to end the game in the bottom of the fifth. Kadish and Bucci each singled, and they were on second and third when a throwing error on a ball hit by Cork allowed both of them to score.
 
Wolstenholme finished 3-for-3 with an RBI and three runs. Bucci was 2-for-3 with a walk and two runs and Kadish went 2-for-3 with an RBI. Also for the Red Dragons as part of a 10-hit attack, Wilder was 1-for-2 with a double, walk and RBI and Stoddard was 1-for-3 with two RBI. Eastern starter Erin Miller took the loss after allowing five runs, four earned, on four hits and three walks in one-plus innings.
 
Cortland 8, Skidmore 0 (6 inn.) (Box Score)
 
Cortland scored seven runs over the first three innings and cruised to the win over the Thoroughbreds (2-4). Alexandrea Flint (Dalton/Keshequa) combined with three relievers for the shutout, but only pitched three innings and was one inning shy of being eligible for the win. She allowed one hit and four walks and struck out two.
 
Freshman Kirstyn Alonzo (Mechanicville) was ruled Cortland's most effective reliever and was awarded her first collegiate victory. She retired the side in the fifth inning. Freshman Katie Pitkin (Brownville/General Brown) allowed one infield single in the fourth and Jamie Lachall (Philadelphia, PA/Sun Valley) gave up a bunt single in the sixth.
 
Cortland scored twice in the first on Niki Barbato's (East Meadow/Holy Trinity) two-run triple to left center. The Red Dragons' four-run second featured a Rosie Phillips (Geneva/Our Lady of Mercy) RBI single, a Bucci two-run single and a Wolstenholme RBI single.
 
In the third, Kadish led off with a single, and pinch runner Alissa DePadua (Milford, PA/Delaware Valley) stole second, went to third on a wild pitch and scored on a Phillips squeeze bunt. The Red Dragons closed the scoring in the top of the sixth on consecutive singles by Mikayla Shade (Bethlehem), Barbato and Wolstenholme, followed by an error on a grounder hit by Stoddard.
 
Skidmore had two good scoring chances in the first three innings. The Thoroughbreds opened the game with two walks but eventually left runners on second and third. In the third inning, they loaded the bases on a Dani DiGregory single, an Abby Shea walk, a fielder's choice, and a Mackenzie Whiting walk, but Flint got the next batter to ground into a fielder's choice for a force at second to end the inning.
 
Cortland finished with 13 hits and played errorless ball. Cork was 3-for-3, Kadish finished 2-for-3 and Barbato was 2-for-3 with a triple and two RBI. Wolstenholme went 2-for-4 with an RBI, Bucci ended 1-for-3 with two RBI and two runs, and Phillips was 1-for-1 with two RBI.
 
Cassie Fishkin started for Skidmore and allowed six runs, five earned, on seven hits in two innings. Amanda Carilli gave up two runs, one earned, on six hits in four innings. They each walked one batter.