AUBURNDALE, Fla. -- The Blue Devils split the opening day doubleheader against SUNY Canton Thursday, winning the first game 13-1 and dropping the second 4-3.
At the end of the day the Blue Devils are 1-1 while Canton sits at 3-5.
Senior Zach Jordan (Akron, N.Y./Akron) got the nod in game one. Jordan pitched six innings, struck out nine, and allowed just one run.
Ben Senior (Angola, N.Y./Lakeshore) relived Jordan in the seventh and recorded one strikeout and did not give up a run.
Sophomore
Michael Prentice (West Seneca, N.Y./ St. Francis) went three for five and knocked in four runs as well as scoring three times. Senior
Vincent Sherman (North Collins, N.Y./North Collins) had three hits and three RBI.
Ciro Frontale (Syracuse, N.Y./ Bishop Ludden) went three for four, scored five times and had one RBI. Prentice and Frontale added two doubles apiece.
After allowing the first Canton batter to score in the top of the first, the Devil offense took control. Fredonia scored three runs in the first, second and third innings to take an early 9-1 lead. They finished with 15 hits.
Steve Sturm (Amherst, N.Y./Amherst) took the hill in game two and went five and two thirds innings striking out two, giving up three runs -- two earned -- on seven hits.
Jake Harford (Silver Creek, N.Y./Silver Creek) came in with two out and two on in the bottom of the sixth and struck out the batter to end the inning.
With two out and nobody on in the bottom of the seventh, Canton scratched out an infield hit and advanced to third on an error. Canton scored the final run on a ground ball to short. Shortstop
Erik Krohl (Syracuse, N.Y. / West Genesee) made a diving stop , but was unable to throw out the runner as the winning run crossed the plate.
Senior
Ryan Carmody (Montgomery, N.Y. / Valley Central) went two for three and knocked in one run. Frontale added two more hits, giving him five on the day, and scored one run to give him six in the double header.
Kenny Johnston (Buffalo, N.Y. / Kenmore West) had a pair of hits and three walks in the doubleheader.
The Blue Devils play Friday afternoon against Ursinus at Polk State College. First pitch is slated for 2 p.m.
