PLATTSBURGH -- Donnalyn Cross' two-run single in the top of the seventh inning Sunday gave Cortland a 3-1 win over Endicott in the championship game of the 2008 NCAA Division III Softball Regional at Cardinal Park Sunday.

Cortland, the fourth seed in the regional, improved its overall record to 38-11 and now advances to the national quarterfinals May 16-20 in Salem, Va. The loss eliminated second-seeded Endicott (41-6) from the tournament.

Cortland, which was ranked 22nd nationally in the last NFCA coaches' poll of the regular season, will be the fourth seed at the Division III World Series. The program will be making its fifth appearance at the Elite Eight.

With the score tied at 1-all, Brooke Weidman singled to start the top of the seventh and moved to second on a sacrifice. Kim Whitman hit a single up the middle and went to second on a throwing error as Weidman was held at third. Cross then stepped to the plate and hit a single up the middle to score both Whitman and Weidman to give the Red Dragons the 3-1 lead.

The game was scoreless until the fifth inning.

Maria Blum scored the first run of the day in the top of the fifth for Cortland on a fielding error by Endicott.

Endicott tied the game in the bottom half of the fifth when Merry MacDonald belted a solo home run over the fence in center.

Katie Finch (21-7) pitched the complete game for the Red Dragons, striking out seven and allowing five hits.

Maria Mangine suffered the loss for Endicott as she struck out five, walked three and surrendered five hits.

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Cortland 3, Endicott 1

Cortland 000 010 2 -- 3 5 0

Endicott 000 010 0 -- 1 5 3

Finch and Barnett. Mangine and Sargent. WP- Finch. LP- Mangine. 2B- Barnett (C). HR- MacDonald (E).

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