Eva FitzSimmons (photo by Megan Moellendorf)
Fredonia State rallied for three runs and had the bases loaded before a game-ending double play ended its bid to sweep a SUNYAC doubleheader Saturday at Oswego State.
After winning the first game 6-3, the Blue Devils (4-8 overall, 4-4 SUNYAC) dropped the nightcap 4-3, but not without a fight. They trailed 4-0 entering the top of the seventh. Hannah Mezzoprete was hit by a pitch to start the comeback bid. Melanie Gleason then singled and Alyssa Santiago walked to load the bases. Amanda Eastman drilled a hard grounder past third to make it 4-1 and Amber Piniewski singled to left for two more runs.
Oswego State's Game 1 starter Fiona Higgins came on in relief and inducing the first out of the inning, walked Abby Emig to reload the bases. With the Oswego infielders playing in for a possible play at the plate, Alex Brizendine made good contact and grounded hard to the second baseman, who threw home for the second out, and the catcher threw to first to retire Brizendine for the final out.
The pitching loss went to Emily Chelius, who deserved a better fate. Her teammates made six errors behind her. Madison Hoeflinch was the winner with Higgins earning a save.
Down 2-0 in the opener, the Blue Devils took the lead on a three-run homer in the fourth inning by Eva FitzSimmons. They added on later in the inning on an Oswego error, a double by Alyssa Piniewski, and an RBI groundout by Delana Thomas. The Blue Devils added two insurance runs in the top of the seventh when Katie Yudin singled in Thomas and Amber Piniewski, both of whom had singles to set up the rally.
Unlike Game 2, the Blue Devil made key defensive plays to erase Laker scoring chances. With her team leading 4-2 and one out in the fourth, Syd Merkley gunned down a runner at home trying to score on a fly-out to center. The Lakers pulled to within 4-3 in the last of the sixth before running themselves out of the inning as the Blue Devils turned a grounder to short into another inning-ending double play, tagging out two Lakers after rundowns.
Yudin was the pitcher of record on the winning side with Maria Caviris recording the last six outs for a save. Higgins took the loss.
