×

Blue Devils fall in extras, then due to darkness

Special to the OBSERVER

OSWEGO — Fredonia lost both ends of a SUNYAC softball doubleheader Wednesday with the Oswego State Lakers.

The Lakers took the opener, 5-4, in eight innings, and claimed a 5-1 win in the nightcap — which ended prematurely due to darkness in the middle of the sixth.

The Blue Devils (11-13, 1-7 SUNYAC) staged a dramatic seventh-inning rally to force extra innings. Down 4-1 with one out, Emily Shellenberger launched a pinch-hit, three-run homer off Oswego’s Rebecca Vilchez. It was the first hit allowed by Vilchez, who had pitched 6-1/3 innings of hitless softball. The Blue Devils followed with three straight hits, yet could not score the go-ahead run. Katie Yudin pitched out of a bases-loaded, one-out jam in the last of the seventh.

Fredonia had runners on second and third with one out in the top of the eighth before Vilchez pitched out of the jam. A hit, an error, a walk, and a sacrifice fly by Oswego’s Jessica Roe plated the winning run in the bottom half of the inning. Errors figured into the scoring for both teams. Fredonia made five errors while Oswego committed three of its own. All four Blue Devil runs were unearned.

In the second game, Oswego broke a 1-1 tie with two runs in the third inning. The Lakers (6-12, 2-2 SUNYAC) tacked on single runs in the fourth and fifth innings. Fredonia’s lone run came when Shellenberger walked and eventually scored from third on a double steal. Shellenberger also started in the circle and was tagged with the loss. Yudin and Nikki Lent had extra-base hits.

Fredonia is scheduled to meet Buffalo State in a doubleheader at home this Saturday at noon, although the game may be moved to Friday due to an unfavorable weather forecast Saturday. Friday’s start time would be 3 o’clock. The SUNYAC games carry added importance as part of the Blue Devils’ Battle by The Lake series with the Bengals. In addition, the doubleheader with Buffalo State has been designated “Strike Out Cancer” day for the two teams.

Baseball

Fredonia sweeps pair from Medaille Wednesday

BUFFALO — Fredonia won both ends of a college baseball doubleheader Wednesday over the Medaille Mavericks, 8-2 and 8-1, respectively. Both games were seven-inning affairs.

In the opener, the Blue Devils broke open a one-run game with five runs in the seventh. Alexio Medina had an RBI double followed by a two-run double by Kevin Yirinec. All 10 Blue Devil batters had at least one hit, including Daniel Goodbread and Derek Fie with a double and a single each. Steve Zaprowski (1-1) allowed three hits and struck out three for his first win of the season.

Fredonia had 15 hits in the second game, led by Medina with a homer and a double among his three hits. Joseph Coene had a two-run double plus a single and a walk. James Krolikowski, Ciro Frontale and Nicolas Fiore also had two hits each. Matt Wilhelm pitched a complete-game, four-hitter with eight strikeouts. He improved to 2-0 while the Blue Devils moved to 13-12 overall heading into today’s game at D’Youville.

Swimming & Diving

Bartlett adds SUNYAC academic award

CORTLAND — Fredonia senior Meghan Bartlett has been named the top student in her sport by the State University of New York Athletic Conference.

Bartlett, a six-time NCAA Division III All-American in springboard diving, was named as SUNYAC Women’s Swimming & Diving Scholar-Athlete of the Year in a vote by the conference Sports Information Directors. Earlier this year, she was named SUNYAC Women’s Diver of the Year as well as the SUNYAC Diver of the Meet following the four-day conference championship meet in Buffalo.

“Bartlett, a native of Johnstown, capped an accomplished career as a diver for Fredonia,” the SUNYAC publicist said. “The senior business management major excelled in the classroom throughout her college career. When it came to diving, Bartlett, a two-time SUNYAC Diver of the Year, was constantly at the top of the field. At the SUNYAC championship meet, she placed first in both the 1-meter and 3-meter dives and was named Diver of the Meet. At the NCAA championships, she was able to place fourth nationally in the 1-meter and third nationally in the 3-meter, adding two more All-American awards for a total of six overall.”

The Scholar-Athlete of the Year awards are new to SUNYAC this school year. The SIDs, on behalf of their institutions, nominate and vote for athletes that display excellence in both the classroom and on the field of play. Bartlett is among nine individuals who were selected from seven winter sports.

Eligibility requirements consist of an overall GPA of at least 3.30, being a starter or significant reserve on his or her team, and having a class standing of sophomore or higher.

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

Starting at $4.62/week.

Subscribe Today