Pitcher Korey Canton (photo by Ron Szot).
The Fredonia State baseball team used a couple of solid pitching outings to sweep Alfred State, 3-1 and 6-3, on Monday. Senior Sam Cestra went the distance in Game 1, while freshman Korey Canton pitched into the sixth before giving way to Keny Ynoa, who picked up the save in Game 2.
Cestra scattered four hits, struck out three and walked one in an 85-pitch complete game. The lone blemish came on a Jack Henby solo homerun in the fifth.
The Devils loaded the bases in each of the first three innings, but only came away with two runs. Ryan Hann grounded to third as Johnny Genau scored on a throwing error for the first run.
A bases-loaded error by the shortstop led to the Devils' second run in the second inning.
The Devils added an insurance run in the fifth when Luke Kenyon and A.J. Kinney ripped back-to-back hits. Kenyon would score on a groundout by Zach Hemphill. The Devil offense only managed three hits for the game.
Fredonia State took control early in Game 2, with three runs in the second and two more in the third inning.
A double by Matt Heffernan plated Tylor Murphy for the first run. A base hit by Kinney brought home the second run. Following a double by Hemphill and a hit by pitch, Genau walked to force in the third score of the inning.
In the third, Kinney hustled down the line to force an error on the Alfred State first baseman to score the first run. Hemphill beat out an infield hit to score the the second run of the inning to get the Devils a 5-0 lead.
Canton cruised through the first four innings without allowing a run.
In the fifth, back-to-back singles and a sacrifice bunt by the Pioneers put runners at second and third. Connor Pingitore lined a ball to left to plate a pair.
Alfred State used a solo homerun by Matt Avalone to lead off the sixth and make it a 5-3 game. A double and a walk had Pioneers knocking on the door.
Ynoa came in and punched out the first batter following a nine-pitch at bat. A foul out and blooper to second ended the inning. Ynoa worked a 1-2-3 seventh to bring home the win.
Murphy had three hits in Game 2, while Hemphill had a pair as the Devils finished with 10 hits. Kinney made his first starts of the year, and would reach base five times in the doubleheader, as well as provide the defensive play of the day with a diving catch in leftfield.
Fredonia State improved to 3-10, and travels to Oswego this weekend. ASU falls to 12-18.
