NEW PALTZ, N.Y. - Cortland opened the 2024 SUNYAC Softball Tournament with a 7-1 victory over Fredonia on Thursday at New Paltz.
 
Cortland (26-7), seeded second in the six-team tournament, will face fourth-seeded Oneonta on Friday at 11:30 a.m. Oneonta defeated third-seeded Geneseo, 5-1, in Thursday's third game. Five games were held on Thursday, one more than originally scheduled. Top-seeded New Paltz edged sixth-seeded Buffalo State, 4-3, in the opening game. Buffalo State later eliminated Fredonia, 8-1, and New Paltz eliminated Geneseo, 5-0.
 
Kim Westenberg (Massapequa Park/Massapequa) tossed a four-hitter for the win, striking out eight and not walking anyone. She also finished 2-for-4 with a double and two RBI.
 
Gina Meyers (Liverpool) went 2-for-4 with two runs scored, extending her hitting streak to 32 games. Shannon Scotto (Putnam Valley/Lakeland) went 3-for-4 with a double and an RBI and McKenna Barry (Clifton Park/Shenendehowa) was 1-for-3 with a double and three RBI.
 
Cortland struck quickly for five runs in the bottom of the first. Tori Reich (Cornwall) singled and was safe at second on a Meyers fielder's choice grounder. Scotto singled to load the bases and Westenberg singled to drive in a run. The second run scored on an error and Barry followed with a three-run double to right.
 
The Red Dragons added two runs in the fourth. Meyers, who extended her hitting streak with an infield single in the second, singled with one out in the fourth and stole second. She scored on a Scotto double to left, and Westenberg doubled in pinch runner Emily Stavola (Somers).
 
Fredonia (15-24) had only one baserunner over the first five innings on Alyssa Santiago's leadoff single in the second. The Blue Devils scored in the sixth when Madison Devore led off with a single and Allie Wandell hit an RBI triple to right. Fredonia starter Emily Chelius allowed five runs, four earned, in the first and took the loss.