BROOKE ATKINS
Social Media Manager
After a long wait due to weather cancellations, the Fredonia softball team finally played its first home game of the season. The game was against Oswego, in which the team split its doubleheaders to begin the season.
Sophomore outfielder Lauren Pixley hit her first collegiate home run to put the Blue Devils on the board.
In the second game of the day, the fans got to see a different set of players enter the field as they came out stronger than before.
Fredonia took the first win of the season in the second game winning 4-3. This improved its record to 1-1 in the SUNYAC conference.
Adding to another first of the season, freshman Emily Shellenberger pitched a complete game, allowing only eight hits.
Goals are still being put in place since the season is just beginning.
“Our goal for this season is to compete with everyone we play and to ultimately make it to conference championships,” said senior shortstop Alyssa Morgan.
After a tough third inning for the Blue Devils, they rallied back in the bottom of the third as sophomore outfielder Nikki Lent had a hit down the first-base line and got a single.
Stepping up next was Morgan with a double to make it 3-1.
Senior shortstop Kim Lotocki started off with a walk and freshman outfielder Kelly Losito hit a homer to right center, scoring Lotocki.
“I was excited but also sad to be on the other side of senior day this year,” said Morgan. “You can’t ever really prepare for something you truly love to come to an end.”
Continuing the homerun streak, junior shortstop Khee Nance hit a line-drive home to the left line. This was Nance’s first time playing softball as a Blue Devil.
When talking to senior Izzy Simon about her senior year, her words seemed filled with nostalgia.
“It’s strange because I have seen three classes on my team graduate but you never realize how quickly it really comes,” said Simon.
As much of an exciting game as this was, it was a bittersweet day for the seniors as it was Senior Day.
Seven Fredonia seniors were recognized: Lotocki, Morgan, Madeline Medina, Megan Medina, Simon, Lindsey Forness and Aldyn Carlson.
“It was strange because it was our first home game, so it hasn’t really sank in that this is it,” said Simon.
The third game of the season was against Cortland, in which the Blue Devils split the doubleheaders again.
Fredonia came up short on the first game losing 18-6.
Continuing her home run streak, freshman Kelly Losito hit a homerun. Morgan singled, which was her first of three hits in the game. The Blue Devils scored two runs in the second inning due to a leadoff single by junior catcher Sarah Cuillo and a two-out RBI single by Losito and Morgan. A single by Nance lead to a bunt by Losito, with another single by Morgan and a walk to senior Madeline Medina to load the bases. Lotocki hit an RBI single and Nance scored on a wild pitch.
On the next day of play, the Blue Devils headed to New Paltz where they lost both games.
New Paltz’s pitcher only allowed 11 hits, with one of them being an RBI single by senior second baseman Forness in the second game.
Carlson started off the game pitching, and was then relieved by freshman Erika Whitney. Whitney allowed one run on four hits. Nance had three hits and Morgan had two hits all contributing to the Blue Devils scoring. In the top of the seventh, the Blue Devils had an attempt at making a comeback but left runners on base, finishing with a losing score. Cuillo had two hits in game one and pinch-hit in game two.
Ending its weekend trip full of games, Fredonia ended playing a doubleheader against Oneonta, which it lost both games 7-1 and 14-6.
Starting off the game was a single by Cuillo, a double by Herman and a sacrifice fly by junior outfielder Erin Mushtare. Morgan came in strong with two singles and leaving eight runners stranded. Shellenberger pitched the first five innings and only allowed eight hits.
Fredonia’s rally came when Nance hit a single, followed by freshman Leanne Villani walking. Sophomore third baseman Katelyn Dennis was walked ahead of a two-run double by senior Forness. Oneonta had two runs in the first off Whitney.