Starters, hitters stay hot

Ben Atkinson (Syracuse/Nottingham) tossed six scoreless innings as the Devils downed Lehman 8-4 in the final game for Fredonia in Myrtle Beach. It was the third consecutive game a Fredonia starting pitcher did not allow a run. For the weekend, Devil starters gave up one run in 22 1/3 innings of work as the team finished 3-1.

Offensively, the Devils cracked 13 hits with five players having two or more safeties.

Atkinson allowed four hits, struck out three and had one walk over his six innings of work.

Fredonia opened scoring in the third with a pair of runs. Patrick Sheehan (Orchard Park) drove in the first one on a groundout. Joseph Coene (Webster/Webster Thomas) followed with a sacrifice fly.

Fredonia added a run in the fourth, fifth, and sixth innings to take a 5-0 lead.

Lehman threatened in the seventh. With runners on first and second, reliever Michael Williamson (Cuba, N.Y./Cuba Rushford) put out the fire by striking out the first two batters he faced and getting the third on a groundout.

The Lightning solved Williamson in the next inning, scoring four times, the final three coming on a home run by Juan Arias to make it a 5-4 game.

Lucas Schaefer (Depew/St. Mary's) picked up Williamson, getting the final two outs of the eighth without any more damage.

Fredonia logged three insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth. Coene ripped a two-run single and Nicolas Fiore (Webster/Webster Thomas) coaxed a bases-loaded walk.

Schaefer worked the ninth for his first save of the season.

Coene, Sheehan, Mike Prentice (West Seneca/St. Francis), Kevin Yirinec (Fairport), and Steve Zaprowski (Williamsville/Williamsville South) all finished with two hits apiece. Coene had three RBI.

The Devils are scheduled to travel to Houghton on Tuesday.