Special to The OBSERVER

PLATTSBURGH — Fredonia softball rallied from a seven-run deficit to score a 10-9 win over Plattsburgh in the second game of their SUNYAC doubleheader.

Down 8-1 after the first inning, the Blue Devils (8-14 overall, 3-5 SUNYAC) chipped away until plating the tying run in the top of the sixth and the winner in the eighth on a single by Eva FitzSimmons following a lead-off double by Katie Yudin.

Yudin’s pitching was the key to the victory. She pitched six innings of relief, faced 20 batters and allowed no hits and no runs while walking just one. She struck out five.

The Blue Devils, 7-2 losers in the opener, had 19 hits in the nightcap, including three each by FitzSimmons and twin sisters Alyssa Piniewski and Amber Piniewski (three RBI).

As for the Devils in the details:

GAME ONE

The Blue Devils took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first on back-to-back singles by Karli Murray and Sydney Merkley, a stolen base by Murray and a infield groundout by Maddy O’Heir.

It was 2-0 in the fourth when FitzSimmons doubled to lead off the inning, went to third on a wild pitch and an infield groundout by Megan Maull.

Plattsburgh took command with six runs in the fifth off losing pitcher Katie Yudin. The Cardinals added a run in the last of the sixth. Hannah Fuerst pitched a complete-game seven hitter with three strikeouts. Yudin started for Fredonia and took the loss.

GAME TWO

After Fredonia took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first, Plattsburgh exploded for eight runs of the inning and chased Blue Devil starter Sam Seegar. Jennifer Groat had two hits in the inning for the Cardinals, including a two-run single.

The first Fredonia run was the result of a lead-off double by Murray, who eventually scored on a sacrifice fly by Yudin.

Back-to-back doubles by Alyssa and Amber Piniewski with two outs in the second cut the Fredonia deficit to 8-2. After Plattsburgh made it 9-2 in the second, the Blue Devils cut further into the Plattsburgh lead with three runs in the top of the third. The rally included a double by Jules Vassallo, a single by FitzSimmons, an RBI single by Nicole Kumro, a wild pitch to score a run and a sacrifice fly by Alyssa Piniewski.

Murray led off the fourth with a double, stole third, and scored on a sacrifice fly by Yudin to cut the Plattsburgh lead to 9-6 in the top of the fourth.

The Blue Devils made it a one-run game in the top of the fifth on a two-run double by Amber Piniewski. It followed singles by Kumro and Alyssa Piniewski.

The comeback was complete in the top of the sixth on singles by Yudin and FitzSimmons and a sacrifice fly by Cassie Herman.

WHAT’S NEXT?

The Blue Devils stay in north country for a SUNYAC doubleheader today at Potsdam. Game 1 first pitch is 11 a.m.