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Published May 11, 2008 01:00 am - Red Dragons looking to close out softball regionals in Plattsburgh.

Cortland in NCAA driver's seat
Red Dragons need one more win over Endicott today in NCAA softball regionals

By COURTNEY LEWIS
Staff Writer

PLATTSBURGH -- Cortland is looking awfully comfortable on the home field of its conference rival.

The Red Dragons defeated Endicott, 4-1, Saturday morning in the NCAA Division III Softball Championship Plattsburgh Regional. Cortland has won six straight at the Cardinals Softball Complex, dating back to last weekend's SUNYAC Tournament, and has given up more than one run in just two of those games.

Endicott bounced back with a 3-0 win over St. John Fisher and will meet Cortland (37-11) again today. Because the fourth-seeded Red Dragons are still unbeaten in the double-elimination tournament, No. 2 seed Endicott (41-5) will have to beat them twice today to claim the regional title.

The champion earns one of eight spots in next week's finals in Salem, Va.

Saturday morning, Endicott got on the board first when Meghan Sargent reached home on an error in the fourth.

Jen Elwell held the Red Dragons without a hit through the first three innings, but their bats came alive in the fourth. With a runner on first, Emily Ringen hit a 2-RBI double to deep left-center.

"It was a fake bunt/slap that turned into almost a home run ... and then there was a little bit of a snowball from there," Cortland coach Julie Lenhart said. "I think hitting can be contagious. But that kind of opened it up a little bit.

"Everybody was expecting a sac bunt; no one was expecting a ball over their head that almost went out. And I think that just kind of woke everybody up, and I think that turned the corner."

Bethany Williamson drove in another run for a 3-1 lead, and Cortland totaled four hits in the inning.

Cortland had the bases loaded in the bottom of the fifth, but the Gulls got out of the inning. Then Kim Whitman's grounder past shortstop scored a run for Cortland in the sixth.

Cortland pitcher Katie Finch struck out nine and walked none for her 20th win of the season.

The Red Dragons are 3-0 in the tournament, and because they've stayed in the winners bracket, they've had more rest -- they played just once Saturday and had Friday off. That's been important because they've relied almost entirely on one pitcher. Finch, a sophomore, has been in the pitching circle for all but one out this week, and she started all five of Cortland's games last weekend.

"When Finch is on the mound, you just always feel like you're in the game," Lenhart said. "She's just had a phenomenal postseason as well as regular season. So we're keeping her out there as long as we can."

Endicott pulled ahead early against No. 3 seed St. John Fisher (26-21).

Rachel Pearson drove in the first run with a line drive to center in the first inning. The Gulls took a 2-0 lead on a pop-up that dropped in near the pitching circle in the second.



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