Kendall Phillips was the winning pitcher in Game 1 vs. Oneonta (photo by Cecil Ramsey).
Fredonia State softball used an early two‑run punch and a Madison DeVore home run to win the opener 3-2, then couldn't duplicate the offense in the nightcap, settling for a SUNYAC split Saturday after a 5-0 loss at Oneonta.
The Blue Devils took a 2-0 lead in the first inning of Game 1. DeVore led off with a single through the left side, and Kayla Jo Lynn followed with a bunt single. They loaded the bases when Alexa Bogad reached on an error by the catcher. Avery Hill cashed in first, grounding to second to bring in DeVore. One batter later, Brooke Caldwell followed with another RBI groundout to short, scoring Lynn.
Oneonta cut the lead in half in the third on a three‑hit sequence capped by an RBI single from Emily Brown before DeVore answered in the fifth. Leading off the inning, she turned on a 1–2 pitch and homered to left, pushing the margin back to 3–1 and giving Fredonia State what proved to be the game‑winning run.
Oneonta made it tight in the seventh. Ella Kean tripled to right to open the inning and scored on a two‑strike RBI double to center by pinch hitter Sara Kropp, trimming the lead to 3–2. The Blue Devils turned to Cayzlee Johnson out of the bullpen, and she recorded the final three outs—stranding Kropp at third after a groundout, strikeout and play to short—to secure her first collegiate save. Kendall Phillips earned the win, working six innings with five hits, two runs, three walks and four strikeouts before handing it to Johnson for the seventh.
The second game flipped the script as Fredonia's bats went quiet. The Blue Devils managed just three hits—one each from Bogad, Kirsten Lajewski and Chloe Whittingham. Their best chance came in the fifth when Lajewski singled to right and Whittingham followed with a single to center, putting runners at first and second with one out. A fielder's choice and a strikeout ended the threat.
Sabrina Edwards‑Smith took the loss in 4.2 innings of work, allowing four runs on seven hits with three walks and two strikeouts. Phoenix Thomas and Johnson combined for the final four outs, with Johnson adding another strikeout in a scoreless appearance.
The split left the Blue Devils at 1-3 in the SUNYAC and 5-15 overall heading into the Battle by the Lake when SUNY Buffalo State University visits this Saturday for a doubleheader starting at noon.
