CORTLAND, N.Y. -- The Fredonia State softball team scored a run in the top of the eighth inning to take a 3-2 lead over Cortland in Game 2, but the Red Dragons bounced back with a two-run rally to take the game, 4-3. Cortland took the opener by a 5-0 count.

Game 1
Both teams scraped just five hits apiece, but Cortland was able to make better use of its opportunities in the 5-0 defeat.

Cortland used a bit of charity in the first inning. Three walks and a hit by pitch acounted for the first run. A groundout plated the second, giving the hosts a 2-0 lead.

Cortland scraped together five singles in the fourth inning, plating three more runs with one out. Fredonia State's Vanessa Galbraith came on in relief of starter Emily Chelius, and got the final two outs. Galbraith and Mack Celauro combined for 2 2/3 innings of hitless relief.

Karlee Weeden tossed the five-hit shutout, striking out three. Five different Devils each had one hit.

Game 2
The Devils jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning. After base hits by Alexis Wulf and Victoria Pauwels, and a stolen base by Pauwels, Erin Cunningham drove in both with a basehit up the middle.

Cortland halved the lead in the bottom of the first off starting pitcher Galbraith. After the first batter popped up, a single and double by Cortland got them going. However, the Devils were able to relay the ball in to home plate, gunning down the runner for the second out. A dropped fly ball gave Cortland an unearned run before getting out of the inning.

A two-out throwing error by the Devils enabled Cortland to tie the game at 2-2 in the second. 

The score would remain that way until the eighth inning.

Wulf singled and was sacrificed to second to start the inning. A wild pitch advanced her to third. Pauwels then continued her hot hitting with a double to give the Devils a 3-2 lead.

In the bottom of the eighth, a walk and single found runners at the corners for Cortland. Celauro then came on in relief of Chelius. A base hit tied the game. 

The next batter bunted and it turned into a hit to load the bases. Celauro then induced a ground ball to second base as the Devils nailed the second runner of the game at the plate. With one away, the Dragons plated their final run on an infield error to claim the 4-3 win.

Pauwels and Wulf had two hits apiece to pace Fredonia State. Galbraith threw four innings, giving up two runs, none earned. Chelius held down middle relief, going three-plus innings, giving up two runs, one earned.

The Devils play host to Oneonta and New Paltz next weekend to wrap up the SUNYAC portion of the season.