Sports Information Department – 112 Dods Hall
Phone (716) 673-3100 / Fax (716) 673-3136

CONTACT: Matt Palisin,
Sports Information Dept.

DATE: Sun., April 30, 2006

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Baseball

Seniors shine in finale

FREDONIA, N.Y. -- Five Fredonia State seniors -- Matt Baudo, Shane Morrison, Craig Heath, Shawn Ridgway and Dave Ickowski -- played in their final games, each making significant contributions, as the Blue Devils rallied for a win to take a split in a season-ending doubleheader vs. Penn State Behrend.

In game two, Behrend jumped out to a 2-0 first-inning lead off Ridgway.

The Devils tied it up in the second inning. Baudo homered to open the frame. Ickowski drove in the second run of the inning to even the score at 2-all.

The Devils would take a 4-2 lead in the fourth. A walk to Ickowski and a Brandon Phillips single set the stage for yet another senior. Morrison lined a triple into right-center field to drive home both runners.

Behrend would get to Ridgway for another run in the fifth inning. Adam Martin and Brian Hart opened the inning with back-to-back singles. A sacrifice bunt moved them up one base. Shane Elzer drove home Martin with a sacrifice fly to centerfield to make the score 4-3.

Hart tripled to lead off the Behrend seventh. He would score on a Shane Scott sacrifice fly. The Devils would not score in their half of the seventh to force extra frames.

The score would remain 4-all until the ninth. The Lion's Brent Sullivan singled to open the inning. Elzer would double to give Behrend a 5-4 lead. A walk to Gabe Stephenson would chase Ridgway from the game. Matt Bauman came in to record the final out.

In the bottom of the ninth, Morrison singled to start the inning. Phil Gavin would then follow with a one-out single to put runners on first and second. Pinch hitter Jim Kunkemoeller followed with a fly ball to center to move Morrison to third base. Mike Austin came up clutch with a two-out triple to give the Devils a 6-5 walk-off win.

Matt Bauman was credited with the win for the Devils. Ridgway -- who pitched 8 2/3 innings on the day -- was going on one day's rest. He worked six innings of relief in Friday's extra-inng game versus Medaille.

Gavin finished the day with three hits to pace the Devils. Morrison, Baudo and Austin had two hits apiece. Hard-hitting Baudo also reached base via hit by pitch and intentional walk. Hart and Paul Henry each had two hits for Behrend.

Behrend claimed the opener, 3-0. Chris McCartney went the distance for the Lions. He allowed three hits, struck out three and walked one.

Fredonia State's Heath would absorb the loss. Heath tossed all seven innings, allowing three earned runs and striking out two.

The series wrapped up a busy weekend for the Devils which saw them play six games in three days -- two of which went extra innings -- totaling 51 innings. The Devils split with Medaille on Friday, SUNYIT on Saturday and Behrend on Sunday. They finish the season at 12-25 overall. They posted a mark of 5-9 in SUNYAC play, placing them fifth of eight teams in the conference.

The win for the Devils also marked the third consecutive season the team won its final game in its last at-bat.

Behrend is idle until Saturday when it opens up the AMCC Tournament vs. Medialle College at 9 a.m. at Behrend.

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