NEW PALTZ, N.Y. – It was a successful homecoming for Fredonia State pitcher
Alyssa Brognano and her teammates Saturday afternoon.
Returning to her native New Paltz for the first time as a collegian, Brognano pitched a five-inning no-hitter as the Blue Devils rolled to a 9-0 win over the New Paltz Hawks in the first game of a SUNYAC doubleheader.
The Blue Devils swept the doubleheader when Jessica Lauck (Kenmore) ripped a two-out, RBI single in the eighth inning and
Jennifer Tighe (Hamburg) pitched five scoreless innings of relief.
Fredonia State improved to 14-12-1 overall and 5-7 in the SUNYAC. The losses dropped the Hawks to 10-16 overall, 4-6 in the conference.
The Blue Devils got off the bus swinging in the first game as the first seven batters all had hits. The half-inning ended with the Blue Devils leading 7-0 before New Paltz had a chance to face Brognano.
Brognano, a graduate of Chapel Field Christian in Pine Bush, N.Y., where she once pitched a perfect game, helped her own cause with two key defensive plays.
After walking the first batter and hitting the second with a pitch, New Paltz's Melissa Liotta looped a short pop fly between the pitcher's circle and third base. Brognano and third baseman
Lauren Larson both went for the ball and collided. Brognano caught the ball while falling to the ground. The runner at second was already on her way to third and was an easy out for a double play.
The second key play was bunt in front of the mound in the fourth inning. Brognano came quickly toward home and fired to second baseman
Brittany Lis (Lancaster) covering the bag at first to retire the hitter on a bang-bang play.
While New Paltz's native daughter was shining in the field, Fredonia's own
Anne Wasik and
Katie Bartkowiak shinred at the play. Both went 4 for 4 – Wasik with two doubles and two runs scored, Bartkowiak with one double. In addition,
Tina Schwartzmeyer (West Seneca) had two doubles and three RBI.
New Paltz was the team to start quickly in the second game. The Hawks took a 3-0 lead in the last of the first inning, yet would not score another run off Tighe and starting pitcher
Ashley LaPorta (Buffalo)
The Blue Devils made it 3-2 in the second inning on a walk to
Lauren Larson (Lakewood), a doub le by Lattner, and a two-out hit by
Gabrielle Ciccarello (Sodus). The tying run came in the fifth on a single by Lis, a sacrifice by Lauck, and a two-out infield single by Wasik.
The winning rally began with a one-out walk by Lattner. After Lis walked to put runners on first and second with two outs, Lauck singled down the right-field line.
Tighe nailed down the win with a scoreless eighth inning. She allowed two hits, no walks, and struck out five to improve to 3-3.
The Blue Devils are idle until next Saturday when they travel to Buffalo State for two games starting at noon.
