AUBURNDALE, FL. -- The Fredonia baseball team opened SUNYAC play Thursday with a 4-1 win and a 5-4 loss to Plattsburgh in Florida.

Senior Zachary Jordon (Akron, N.Y. Akron) started Game 1 and pitched seven innings giving up one run to earn the win. Joe DiLeo (Williamsville, N.Y./St. Joe's) pitched a scoreless eighth and ninth, striking out the final two batters, to earn the save.

The Blue Devils scored first in the top of the firth when Kenny Johnston (Buffalo, N.Y./Kenmore West) laid down a bunt that was thrown into right field allowing Ricky Mendiola (Williamsville, N.Y./Williamsville South) to score.

The Cardinals responded an inning later plating their first run of the game in the bottom of the sixth. 

In the top of the eighth inning the Blue Devils broke the tie with a pair of scores. After Quinn Danahy (Buffalo, N.Y./Bishop Timon) was hit by a pitch and pinch run for, Kyle Sherman (North Collins, N.Y./North Collins) singled to put runners at the corners. Sherman stole second base and on an errant throw in an attempt to pick off  pinch runner R.J. Spinella (Cassville, N.Y./ Sauquoit Valley) at third, Spinella was able to score on the wild throw. Ciro Frontale (Syracuse, N.Y./Bishop Ludden) singled to score Sherman from third giving Fredonia a 3-1 advantage.

Fredonia added an insurance run in the ninth when Erik Krohl (Syracuse, N.Y./West Genesee) singled up the middle scoring Johnston, who had doubled, giving the Blue Devils the 4-1 lead.

The Blue Devils had nine hits in Game 1. Frontale went two for three with an RBI. Seven of the starting nine hitters recorded a hit in the game.

Fredonia struck first in Game 2, which was scheduled for seven innings. Frontale started the rally with a one-out single. The Devils then used four-straight doubles to take a 4-1 lead. Mike Prentice (West Seneca, N.Y./St. Francis), Mendiola, Johnston and Danahy each had a two-bagger and an RBI.

Plattsburgh answered in the bottom of the first scoring one run on three singles, trimming the lead 4-1.

In the bottom of the fifth inning Plattsburgh tied the game at 4-all with a two-out, three-run homerun by Frank Buska.

Plattsburgh would get the game winner in the bottom of the seventh. With the bases loaded following a base hit and a pair of intentional walks, Mike Vargues lined a one-out base hit into left-center field scoring the winning run.

Steve Sturm (Amherst, N.Y./Amherst) took the hill for Fredonia in Game 2, going five innings giving up three earned runs and eight hits. Jake Harford (Silver Creek, N.Y./Silver Creek) started the sixth inning and pitched 1 1/3 innings giving up two hits.

The Blue Devils had 11 hits in Game 2. Ryan Carmody (Montgomery, N.Y. / Valley Central), Prentice, Mendiola, and Danahy each had two hits..

The Blue Devils (4-6, 1-1 SUNYAC) face Plattsburgh (6-6, 1-1 SUNYAC) Friday morning in Winter Haven, Florida. First pitch is slated for 10 a.m.