CORTLAND, N.Y. - The State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) Game of the Week comes from the softball matchup between Cortland and La Verne on March 19. This defensive battle went into extra innings seeing the Red Dragons come out victorious, 3-2.
Cortland was able to jump out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first thanks to a single and a stolen base from Kylie Besko who was able to score off a a single to right center field from Hannah Feldman. The Red Dragons added another run in the top of the second to go up 2-0 on an unusual play. With runners on second and third, Ashley Votta hit a ball to second and the runner trying to score from third was thrown out. At the same time, Votta kept running to second and after a wild throw from the La Verne catcher, Tori Scharff scored.
La Verne was able to close the gap to one in the bottom of the second after a double from Shelby Tevis. Tevis stole third and after a wild throw from Cortland's catcher this time, the Leopards scored to make it 2-1.
The third, fourth, fifth, and sixth innings were scoreless as the pitchers and fielders for both teams did not let the other get an edge.
La Verne tied the game at two in the bottom of the seventh on a leadoff single, sac bunt and an error. With runners starting on second base at the top of the eighth, per the tie breaker rule, Cortland produced a run on a sac bunt from Votta and a Taylor Felicello sacrifice fly to deep left. La Verne bunted its runner to third in the bottom of the eighth before a lineout to third and a groundout to second ended the game.
Player of the Game: Sam Van Dorn threw a complete-game 4-hitter to secure a win for the Red Dragons. She struck out four and walked just one, and both runs that she allowed were unearned.
What's next: After a long spring break trip, the Red Dragons will travel to Potsdam for a doubleheader on Friday, March 29 and then to Plattsburgh for another doubleheader on Saturday.