PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – Fredonia State's bats never warmed up Friday in a pair of 4-1 SUNYAC losses to the No. 13 Plattsburgh Cardinals.
The Blue Devils (18-6 overall, 6-4 SUNYAC) managed nine hits in the two games, played in temperatures just above freezing. The only runs they scored came late in both games.
In the opener, Plattsburgh's Ashley Marshall was perfect through the first six innings before Katie Bartkowiak singled leading off the seventh. Two-out singles by Michelle Lattner, Lauren Larson, and Hannah Vesneske moved Bartkowiak to home one base at a time. The game ended with the bases loaded.
Jennifer Tighe (1-3) pitched a solid complete game. She allowed five hits and only two earned runs, struck out five, and walked two.
In the nightcap, the Cardinals (21-3 overall, 7-1 SUNYAC) scored one run in the first and three in the second off Danielle Shelp (5-1). She was relieved in the third by Raela Wiley, who continued her scoreless relief this spring. She has yet to allow an earned run in seven appearances covering 18 1/3 innings. In addition, the opposition is batting .156 against her.
The Blue Devils plated their only run in the top of the sixth off winning pitcher Heather Loughran. Bartkowiak lined a double into the left-center gap and scored on a single to center by Lattner. Consecutive singles by Gabrielle Ciccarello and pinch-hitter Jamie Atkins leading off the seventh chase Loughran in favor of Marshall. The Game One starter earned a save by retiring three straight batters.
The north country trip resumes Saturday at Potsdam, where the Blue Devils and Bears are scheduled for a 1 p.m. SUNYAC doubleheader.
