(photo by Riley Olson)
Fredonia State baseball split a doubleheader with Oneonta on Saturday, highlighted by a thrilling, come-from behind 14-13 victory in game one before dropping game two,15-4.
Game one:
Fredonia State delivered one of its most dramatic finishes of the season, erupting for eight runs in the bottom of the ninth to walk off Oneonta, 14-13.
The Devils jumped out early in the second inning when Nick Vitelli ripped a two-run single, followed by a two-RBI single from Andrew Tucker to make it 4-0. The Dragons chipped away and eventually surged ahead, capitalizing on a combination of hits and Fredonia State miscues to build a 11-4 lead by the seventh. A two-run single from Zachary Rowe capped a six-run inning that put the Devils in a deep hole.
Fredonia State began to respond in the eighth, as Vitelli and Domenic Hickock each drove in runs with singles to cut the deficit to 11-6. The Devils rally in the ninth began when Noeh Panek singled and later came around to score on a wild pitch to get things started. With the bases juiced, Bryce Firkins was hit by a pitch to force in a run, and Andrew Tucker followed with another hit-by-pitch to bring Fredonia State within four. Hickcock then delivered a key hit to right field that, combined with an outfield error brought in two more runs.
The momentum continued for the Devils as Panek drew a bases-loaded walk to bring the Devils within one and Brayden Willats followed with another bases-loaded walk to tie the game. Moments later, Connor Tyree capped the comeback with a walk-off RBI single to left field.
Fredonia totaled 18 hits in the win, with Vitelli (3 RBI), Tucker (3 RBI), and Hickock (2 RBI) leading the offensive effort.
On the mound, Landon Roach (1-0) earned the win, while Oneonta's Antonio Hicks (0-1) was charged with the loss.
Game two:
Oneonta responded in game two, getting out to a fast start to take control early and secure a 15-4 victory. The Red Dragons broke the game open immediately, scoring five runs in the first inning behind RBI singles from Brendan Duffy and Brendan Duffy, along with a two-run triple by Alex Halwick. They continued to apply pressure in the second and third before a six-run fourth inning, highlighted by RBI hits from Zachary Rowe, Joseph Monserrat and Sean Clinton pushed the lead to 15-0.
Fredonia State got on the board in the fourth inning when Brayden Willats delivered an RBI single, followed by a two run double to right field from Vito Verni to cap a three-run frame. The Devils added one more in the fifth on a passed ball but were unable to generate more offense.
Aiden Charthand (3-0) set the tone for Oneonta, allowing just one earned run over 4.2 innings while Fredonia starter Connor Burkestone (1-2) took the loss.
