CLERMONT, Fla. -- Despite a pair of losses on opening day, Fredonia State made a strong showing -- first defensively and then at the plate -- against nationally ranked Rowan University.

A two-run homer by junior Avery Hill, her first as a collegian, produced both runs in a 4-2 loss to the Profs, who improved to 14-0 and did nothing to dispel their No. 4 ranking in the latest National Federation Coaches Association Division III poll.

Rowan's Makayla Veneziale pitched six perfect innings before Allie Wandell led off Fredonia State's seventh with a single off the second baseman's glove. Wandell was thrown out on a close play at the plate trying to score after a one-out double by Madison Lowe. Hill followed with a homer to left before relief pitcher Madison Cooley got the final out to earn the save.

While their bats were mostly silent, the Blue Devils stayed in the game with with their gloves. Defensive gems included an over-the-shoulder catch by right fielder Courtney Peregosky to thwart a Rowan rally in the third inning, and an unassisted double play by first baseman Kirsten Lajewski in the fourth. Sabrina Edwards-Smith, a freshman right-handed pitcher making her first collegiate start, held Rowan to one run on four hits before running into trouble in the fifth inning,

The day had an inauspicious beginning for the Blue Devils. No phase of their game clicked in an 8-0 loss to Springfield College to open the season. The lone bright spot was 2 1/3 innings of scoreless, one-hit relief by Kendall Phillips. All four Fredonia State hits were singles. 
"I feel we had the opening-day jitters," Fredonia State Head Coach Tony Ciccarello said. "But the second game against a nationally ranked team, we gave them all we've got. That's going to help us improve during the week. It also shows how good we can be."

The 12-game spring trip resumes Monday with a pair of games: 2 p.m. vs. No. 19 University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, and 4:15 p.m. vs. Framingham State University.