COLUMBUS, GA. – The Cortland softball team completed play at the highly competitive NFCA Leadoff Classic with losses to The College of St. Benedict and nationally 14th-ranked Huntingdon College on Sunday.
 
The Red Dragons (1-5) will return to action with six contests at The Spring Games in Kissimmee, Fla, from March 16-20.
 
St. Benedict 8, Cortland 0 (6 inn.)
 
St. Benedict (5-4) won 8-0 in six innings behind a one-hit shutout from Ellie Peterson. She struck out seven batters and did not walk anyone. The only two runners she allowed were on a two-out single by Morgan Ellerbrock (Colonie) in the top of the fifth and an error during Cortland's first at-bat in the second inning.
 
Olivia Tautges did much of the offensive damage for the Bennies, finishing 4-for-4 with two homers, a double, three RBI and four runs scored. Her first homer gave St. Benedict a 3-0 lead in the third, and her second homer created the eight-run margin that ended the game in the sixth. Tuscany Ballot went 2-for-2 with three RBI and Bryn Ruhberg was 2-for-3 with an RBI and two runs.
 
Gianna Endieveri (Glens Falls) started for Cortland and pitched the first three and a third innings. Riley Firenze (Selden/Newfield) entered in the fourth and allowed one run in an inning and two thirds.
 
Huntington 9, Cortland 4
 
Cortland led the nationally ranked Hawks 4-2 after four innings, but Huntingdon took control with seven runs in the top of the fifth. Kaitlyn Macumber (Deposit) started and pitched the first four and a third innings. Olivia DiSalvo (Scotch Plains, NJ/Scotch Plains-Fanwood), Cortland's second reliever, tossed the final two and a third innings and gave up two hits and no runs with one strikeout and one walk.
 
Three Red Dragons finished with two hits each. Emma Robins (Levittown/Division Avenue) went 2-for-3, Shelby LaMont (Amsterdam) was 2-for-4 with an RBI, and Laila Smith (Guilderland) went 2-for-4 with a double.
 
Allie Roberts, the third Huntingdon pitcher, threw four shutout innings for the win. She allowed three hits and two walks and struck out eight. Kinley Hutton was 3-for-4 with two runs scored to lead a 13-hit attack by the Hawks. Kaylin Fincher was 2-for-3 with a double and three RBI and Riley Rudick went 2-for-4 with a double and two RBI.