CORTLAND, N.Y. --- Fredonia opened the SUNYAC portion of its season by dropping a doubleheader, 4-0 and 9-1, to pre-season favorite Cortland.

The Blue Devils (10-8 overall) sent out freshmen into the pitching circle in both games.

Fredonia (10-8) scored its only run in the third inning of Game 2. It came without benefit of a hit. Nikki Lent (Yaphank, N.Y.) dropped a bunt and reached base on the catcher's high throw. Lent scored when she stole second and advanced all the way home when the throw to second sailed into center and past the centerfielder backing up the play. It cut Cortland's lead to 3-1.

Alexandra Flint was the winning pitcher. She scattered five hits over six innings -- including two singles by Katie Yudin (Liverpool, N.Y.) and a double by Katelyn Dennis (Webster, N.Y.).
 
Sam Seegar (North Tonawanda, N.Y.) started in the circle for the Blue Devils and was tagged with the loss. Yudin worked one inning of relief after pitching a complete game in Game 1. Cortland struck for all four it its runs in the third inning off Yudin while two Cortland pitchers combined on the shutout. Jamie Lachall allowed three hits and struck out one over the first five innings. Sam Van Dorn worked the final two innings, gave up two hits, and struck out two.

The Blue Devils had base runners in every inning but the first. Dennis had a pair of singles while Mallory Mecca (Derby, N.Y.), Madison Cooley (Geneva, N.Y.), and Erin Mushtare (Oneonta, N.Y.) each had one single. Meanwhile, Yudin allowed five hits -- three in Cortland's scoring inning, including a bases-clearing, two-out double by Kaleigh Churchill.. Yudin walked two and struck out four.

Khee Nance (Dunkirk, N.Y.) made the defensive play of the game with a backhanded diving snag of a grounder in the hole and a throw from her knees to end the Cortland sixth.

The Blue Devils are next in action at home -- the home opener -- 3 p.m. Friday against Oneonta in the first game of a SUNYAC doubleheader.