The Fredonia State softball celebrated Senior Day on Sunday afternoon.
Prior to the game, Fredonia State recognized seniors Allie Wandell, Vanessa Galbraith, Megan Guidry and Emily Tytler for their dedication and contributions to the program. In front of a home crowd, the Devils played a tightly contested doubleheader with Buffalo State University. In game one the Devils played to extra innings and secured walk off 1-0 victory but fell 7-8 in game two.
Game 1:
The first game was a pitcher's duel with Kendall Phillips getting the start for the Devils. Philips tossed a complete-game shutout, allowing only two hits while striking out 10 Bengals in eight innings. Today was the fifth shutout by Phillips on the season, she has gone 56 2/3 innings without an earned run dating back to 03/21 against University of Wisconsin River-Falls.
Buffalo State's Izzy Pezdek pitched 7.2 innings and gave up just four hits and one unearned run as well.
In the bottom of the eighth, Guidry led off with a single to left field and was by pinch-ran for by Chloe Whittingham. After a sacrifice bunt moved Whittingham to second, Wandell worked a crucial walk. A passed ball during Avery Hill's at bat advanced the runners, setting up a at bat for Madison Lowe. Lowe hit a high pop up down the third base line but the Buffalo State's catcher lost the ball in the sun, allowing Whittingham to come across home plate with the winning run.
Game 2:
At the start of the game, both teams traded early blows with Buffalo State University jumping ahead 4-2 by the second inning, aided by two costly Fredonia State errors.
The Devils tied the game 4-4 in the bottom of the third on an RBI single from Lowe. But in the fourth, Fredonia State's defense stumbled again, allowing two unearned runs, and the Bengals regained a 6-4 lead. The Devils clawed back within one multiple times, but key hits by Buffalo State's Madison Lucas and Deme Kellogg in the sixth inning provided just enough cushion.
At the bottom of the seventh, Hill doubled for the Devils and later scored on an error to make it 8-7, but Pezdek shut the door with a clutch relief appearance, striking out two in the final frame to earn the save.
The Devils move to 10-16 on the season and 7-5 in the SUNYAC. Fredonia State will be back in action on Tuesday, April 29, when they travel to Onondaga Community College for a doubleheader against Canton. First pitch is set for 1:00 p.m.
