CORTLAND, N.Y. – Fredonia State nailed down no worse than the No. 3 seed in the six-team SUNYAC Tournament bracket with an 8-1 win Wednesday over the Potsdam Bears.
In the process, sophomore Katie Bartkowiak broke two school records as the Blue Devils improved to 24-6 overall and 12-4 in the conference with one doubleheader remaining – at home Saturday vs. Buffalo State (1 p.m.). They trail Cortland and Plattsburgh in the SUNYAC with a mathematical chance of moving up into second place.
The latest victory of Potsdam was the continuation of a suspended game which began April 16 at Potsdam. The Blue Devils were leading 3-0 in the second inning when the game resumed at Cortland, the neutral site chosen because of its half-way proximity between Fredonia and Potsdam.
Bartkowiak had a triple at Potsdam and a single in the seventh inning Wednesday at Cortland. It was her 47th hit of the season, one more than she had as a freshman, when she broke the previous school record held by Heather Mercer. In addition, Bartkowiak has 74 total bases this season. The previous record of 72 was set by Mercer in 2004. Bartkowiak also has 23 stolen bases this season, tied with Michelle Sherman's 23 in 1999.
The Blue Devils used four pitchers against Potsdam. Alyssa Brognano started and pitched three scoreless innings, including two Wednesday, when she retired all six batters she faced, the first three by strikeout. Ashley LaPorta (5-1) was the first reliever and was credited with the win. She allowed two hits, one walk, and yielded the only Potsdam run. Danielle Shelp and Raela Wiley followed with one scoreless inning each.
Offensively, Lauren Larson and Anne Wasik had two RBI each. Larson had one in Potsdam and one Wednesday after play resumed. Wasik lined a two-run single to center during a five-run seventh inning Wednesday. Michelle Lattner and Rachel Burrows each had an RBI single.
