CORTLAND, N.Y. – The Cortland softball team delivered a dominant performance in a sweep of the visiting Morrisville Mustangs in a SUNYAC doubleheader. The Red Dragons started off with a 10-0 run-rule victory in five innings in the opener and completed the sweep with a 12-2 win in game two. With the wins, Cortland improved to 17-8 and 8-2 in the SUNYAC.
 
Cortland 10, Morrisville 0 (5 inn.)
 
Cortland wasted no time setting the tone for the day, scoring in each of the first four innings and piling up 11 hits in a run-rule victory.
 
The Red Dragons, who batted first as the games were originally scheduled to be at Morrisville, got on the board in the first inning when Katie Stork (Massapequa) singled, advanced on a passed ball and wild pitch, and scored on an RBI groundout by Shelby LaMont (Amsterdam) for a 1-0 lead.
 
Cortland broke the game open with four runs each in the second and third innings. In the second, Maggie Cummings (Holland Patent) led off with a single and later scored on an RBI single by Sam Pusloskie (Clarence), who advanced to second on the throw. Stork followed with a two-run single up the middle, and Laila Smith (Guilderland)  added an RBI single to extend the lead to 5-0.
 
In the third, Morgan Ellerbrock (Colonie) tripled to lead off the inning and scored on an RBI single by Kaeli McAnally (Islip). Later, Pusloskie delivered again with a two-run single, and Smith capped the inning with a sacrifice fly to push the advantage to 9-0.
 
In the fourth inning, Emily Stavola (Somers) singled and came around to score on an RBI single by Lillian Morse (Burnt Hills/Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake), making the score 10-0. Cortland then held Morrisville scoreless through the fifth inning, which enacted the SUNYAC run-rule.
 
Pusloskie led the offense, going 2-for-3 with three RBI's, while Stork added two hits and two RBI's. Smith also drove in two runs. Nine different players recorded at least one hit as Cortland showcased depth throughout the lineup.
 
In the circle, Gianna Endieveri (Glens Falls)  earned the win with three shutout innings, allowing just one hit while striking out six. Molly Farley (Goshen/Chester Academy) and Riley Firenze (Selden/Newfield) followed in relief, combining for two scoreless innings as Cortland limited Morrisville to just two hits while striking out 10.
 
Kayle Kendrick and Erin Luther each went 1-for-2 for Morrisville. Piper Kaylor took the loss after allowing five runs, four earned, in an inning and a third.
 
Cortland 12, Morrisville 2
 
Cortland completed the sweep in game two with another strong offensive showing. After a scoreless start, the Red Dragons broke through in the third inning with four runs. Morse singled and later scored alongside Smith on a two-run double by LaMont.  McAnally followed with a two-run triple to right-center, giving Cortland a 4-0 lead. Cortland added two more runs in the fourth inning. Morse worked her way around to score on a sacrifice fly by Stork, and LaMont delivered again with an RBI double to make it 6-0.
 
The Red Dragons extended the lead to 7-0 in the fifth when Morse singled home a run, but Morrisville (2-21, 1-9 SUNYAC) responded in the bottom half with two runs, aided by a Cortland error and an RBI single from Gracie Battles. Morse, playing center field, threw out a second Morrisville runner trying to score on the Battles single.
 
Cortland answered immediately in the sixth inning, scoring twice on a sacrifice fly by McAnally and a Morrisville throwing error to push the lead to 9-2. The Red Dragons put the game away in the seventh inning when Kayla Santo (Franklin Square/Valley Stream North) blasted a three-run home run to left field, her first collegiate round-tripper, scoring Stork and Stavola to cap the scoring at 12-2.
 
LaMont led the offense with a 3-for-3 performance and three RBI's, while McAnally also drove in three runs. Morse added two hits, two runs, and an RBI, and Santo's three-run homer highlighted a Cortland's offense that produced 14 hits.
 
In the circle, Olivia DiSalvo (Scotch Plains, NJ/Scotch Plains-Fanwood) started and threw three scoreless innings, allowing three hits. Sophia Wahl (Schuylerville) followed and allowed two runs (one earned) over two innings, and Firenze closed the game with two shutout innings. Firenze was awarded the win as Cortland's most effective reliever since DiSalvo did not go four innings in a game that went more than five.
 
Cortland combined for 22 runs on 25 hits across the doubleheader while holding Morrisville to just two total runs. The Red Dragons' pitching staff was especially effective, limiting Morrisville to 10 hits and three walks.
 
Cortland will travel to Ithaca for a non-league doubleheader this Tuesday at 3 p.m.