FREDONIA, N.Y. -- The Fredonia State softball team salvaged a split vs. Buffalo State when Maria Caviris provided the game-winning RBI with a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the eighth inning on Wednesday. The Devils came away 3-2 winners after dropping the opener, 9-1.

In the winning frame, Syd Merkley led off with a single. Instead of asking his three hitter to lay down a bunt, head coach Tony Ciccarello had fifth-year player Katie Yudin swing away, roping a single to center for her third hit of the day. Emily Chelius then laid down a perfect bunt to move runners to second and third.

Caviris then lofted a ball to left center. The speedy Merkley tagged up just ahead of the throw with the game winner.

The Devils had trailed 2-1 heading into the bottom of the seventh. In the seventh, the Devils used a walk and sacrifice bunt before freshman Alexis Wulf doubled home the tying run.

Yudin finished the game with three hits, including a double. She also came on in relief tossing the final 2 2/3 innings for her first win of the season. She allowed no hits and walked one.

Chelius got the quality start, going 5 1/3, scattering eight hits, striking out a pair and walking four while allowing two runs.

Game 1 started off promisingly enough for the Devils. They opened the scoring when Yudin drove in Merkley for a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third. 

Buff State would score three runs in each of the next three innings to end the game after six. 

Yudin took the loss, giving up five runs, but only two were earned. She struck out four and scattered five hits in 4 1/3 innings of work. 

Fredonia State is now 1-3, and 1-1 in the SUNYAC. Buffalo State moves to 5-5 and 1-3 in conference play.