FREDONIA, N.Y. -- Fredonia rallied for a 5-4 win over New Paltz in the first game of its SUNYAC softball doubleheader Saturday afternoon.
Down to their final out with no runners on base, the Blue Devils scored three runs in the last of the seventh to force extra innings. A throwing error with two outs plated the winning run in the last of the eighth.
New Paltz rolled to a 12-1 win in Game 2.
Karli Murray,
Katie Yudin, and
Eva FitzSimmons had two hits each in the opener while Yudin picked up the win in relief. Yudin was also the pitcher of record for Fredonia in the second game.
The Devils on the details:
GAME ONE
- The teams traded runs in the first inning with Fredonia's tally coming on a lead-off single by Murray a sac bunt, and a New Paltz throwing error.
- New Paltz scored three unearned runs in the fifth, all off starter Sam Seegar. She was relieved by Maria Caviris with no outs in the sixth.
- With two outs and nobody out in the last of the seventh, Delana Thomas singled to start the tying rally. Two runs scored when Murray doubled to left, went to third on the throw, and scored on a throwing error. The Blue Devils were not finished. Amber Piniewski worked the count before singling, then Yudin singled, and Nicole Kumro was hit by a pitch. FitzSimmons singled through the middle to plate the tying run.
- Fredonia's winning rally began with a double by Maddy O'Heir, followed by a sacrifice bunt by Cassie Herman, a walk to Alyssa Piniewski, a walk to Murray, a force out, and a bases-loaded infield grounder by Yudin. The initial out call at first was overturned and Yudin was called safe after the umpires ruled the first baseman was pulled off the bag by a wide throw, which allowed Piniewski to score the winning run.
GAME TWO
- New Paltz quickly put Game 1 behind them with a run in the first and five in the second to take a commanding 6-0 lead. The biggest hit was a three-run homer by Julia DiSpigna through a brisk crosswind.
- The Hawks (23-10 overall, 10-6 SUNYAC) built their lead to 12-0 before Fredonia scratched across a run in the last of the fifth on a hit-batter, a single by O'Heir, and a two-out single by Sydney Merkley.
- Fredonia's two seniors, Cassie Herman and Rhianna Paoletti, were recognized between games of the doubleheader.
WHAT'S NEXT?
- A doubleheader vs. Oneonta is scheduled for noon at Blue Devil Field. It will conclude the regular season and will have bearing on whether or not the Blue Devils make the six-team conference tournament.
