Cortland Captures 2026 SUNYAC Softball Title
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 |
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0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | X | 6 | 6 | 1 |
CORTLAND, N.Y. - Cortland went 3-0 in the SUNYAC softball championship tournament to win its second straight and 18th overall softball conference crown, Sunday at New Paltz's Mary Gray Deane Field. With the win, the Red Dragons earned an automatic berth into the NCAA Division III tournament.
No. 2 Cortland defeated No. 3 Buffalo State, 1-0, on Thursday, then topped No. 1 New Paltz, 4-3, on Friday. After a day off, due to the rain, Cortland and Buffalo State faced off again as the last two teams standing on Sunday. The Red Dragons won 6-1 to take the crown.
Senior Kaeli McAnally was named the SUNYAC Softball MVP after hitting a triple in the bottom of the fourth inning on Sunday to help give Cortland the 1-0 lead. In the three tournament games McAnally went 4-for-8 with four runs.
ELITE 20
The SUNYAC Elite 20, an award modeled after the NCAA ELITE 90 program, recognizes the true essence of the student-athlete by honoring the individual who has reached the pinnacle of competition at the conference championship level in his or her sport, while also achieving the highest academic standard among his or her peers.
This year the SUNYAC recognized the Softball Elite 20 honorees before game 2. There was a tie with both athletes holding a 4.00 overall GPA. The 2026 winners are Fredonia's Kendall Phillips a junior childhood inclusive education major and Oneonta's Millie Reed a sophomore majoring in exercise science.
2026 SUNYAC Softball All-Tournament Team
Eva Blaney, Oneonta
Leah Gunsett, New Paltz
Maddie Anderson, New Paltz
Ashley Jedrich, Buffalo State
Izzy Pezdek, Buffalo State
Deme Kellogg, Buffalo State
Maggie Cummings, Cortland
Gianna Endieveri, Cortland
Kaitlyn Macumber, Cortland
Laila Smith, Cortland
MVP - Kaeli McAnally, Cortland
