NORTH COLLINS, N.Y. – Down 3-1 after five innings, the Fredonia baseball team came storming back to earn a 7-3 victory over New Paltz on Saturday. The game was played at North Collins due to unfavorable conditions at Ludwig Field.
The Devils opened the scoring in the second inning. Following a single by Vincent Sherman and a walk to Kenny Johnston, Sherman would advance to third on sacrifice fly. He would come around to score on an infield hit by Dan Cecilia.
New Paltz would rally for three runs in the fifth inning. Richard Guido placed a perfect swinging bunt down the third-base line to score the first run. Jake Williams followed with single before Anthony DiNardo ripped a two-run single to center to give the Hawks a 3-1 lead.
Fredonia responded with a run in the bottom of the fifth to make it 3-2. Cecilia led off with a triple and scored on an infield hit by Ryan Carmody.
The Devils would take the lead in the sixth. Ricky Mendiola led off with a single. Sherman advanced him to third with another single. Johnston plated Mendiola with a fielder's choice. He would eventually come around to score on a single by the other Sherman, Kyle.
That would end the night for Fredonia's starting pitcher Steve Sturm. Sturm picked up the win going six innings, striking out three and walking one, while allowing nine hits.
Joe DiLeo came on to slam the door earning the save with three innings of work, striking out four.
The Devils gave DiLeo some breathing room in the bottom of the eighth. Mendiola singled and was sacrificed to second. Johnston drilled a double to score Mendiola. After a strikeout then a walk to Kyle Sherman, Cecilia drilled a double to plate two more runs. Carmody followed with a base hit, but Cecilia was gunned down at the plate to end the inning.
Fredonia had 15 hits in the game, led by Cecilia and Mendiola with three apiece. Carmody, Vincent Sherman and Ciro Frontale had two hits apiece.
Fredonia improves to 3-2 in the SUNYAC, and 8-9 overall. New Paltz stands at 3-14, and 0-7 in the conference.
The two teams are back at it for a double header on Sunday in North Collins. First pitch is slated for noon.
