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BROOKE ATKINS
Social Media Manager
The Fredonia women’s softball team started its long week of games with a tough loss away at University of Rochester with a final score of 8-0.
Fredonia ended the first game with only three hits.
Senior shortstop Alyssa Morgan and senior first baseman Madeline Medina, along with junior outfielder Erin Mushtare, contributed hits in the first game.
Leaving runners on base throughout the game was a problem for the Blue Devils.
Freshman Emily Shellenberger pitched the complete first game.
After a tough loss in the first game, freshman pitcher Erika Whitney came out shaky, giving up three runs in the first. She would go on and throw a shutout the rest of the game.
Fredonia managed only three hits in the second game as well. Sophomore outfielder Lauren Pixley started off the streak with a single followed by Morgan and sophomore third baseman Katelyn Dennis with back-to-back singles.
“Our team has so much potential and our goal is to make it to SUNYACs,” said senior second baseman Kim Lotocki.
After some tough losses, Lotocki discusses what needs to be improved to reach their goal.
“We need to work on going out and competing for the last of our conference games,” said Lotocki. “We have the talent, but they just need to stay focused and step up to finish strong.”
Heading back a little closer to home, the Blue Devils played Saturday at Buffalo State, splitting the two games.
Buffalo State came out wanting the win in the first game with a total of 13 hits. Whitney pitched the complete first game, taking the loss for their 13-3 defeat.
Getting its first win of the weekend, junior catcher Sarah Cuillo had a two-out, run-scoring single to carry Fredonia to victory. Helping contribute to the win, freshman pitcher Emily Shellenberger shut down the Bengals. Cuillo started with a single up the middle to knock the freshman pinch runner Leanne Villani in from second base. Villani was pinch running for Dennis who had a two-out double to center.
This win ended the Blue Devils seven-game losing streak. Fredonia’s record improved to 7-17 and 3-7 in SUNYACs.
“They are a team and family, and they want to finish higher in the standings and go deeper into playoffs than other Fredonia softball teams have gone” said Head Coach Tony Ciccarello.
He is expecting improvement as he explained in the beginning of the season.
“I feel like this team has the potential to be as good as the record setting team in 2011” said Ciccarello.
Completing the weekend, Fredonia hosted a doubleheader against Plattsburgh, losing both games. Despite the loss, Morgan moved up to spot number four on the Blue Devil career hits list. She went three for three in the first game, which allowed her to move past Melanie Yaskulski on the list, and she ended the day with 137 hits in 360 at-bats.
Since the beginning of the 2016 season, Morgan has moved up six spots.
Having three hits in game one, sophomore outfielder Nikki Lent started it off for the Blue Devils followed by Medina and junior shortstop Khee Nance with two hits each. Nance also stole three bases. Medina had a three-run homer in the fourth inning, which was also her first collegiate homerun.
Shellenberger started pitching but was relieved by sophomore Megan DeGroat, who allowed one run on one hit.
In the second game, Whitney got the first two outs of the sixth inning before allowing a walk.
Medina had a single down the left field line and a pitch at the plate hit Nance.
A double by senior first baseman Lindsey Forness second one run followed by a single from Dennis scoring the second run. Fredonia left 21 runners on base in two games and 11 runners were left on base by Plattsburgh.
“There is a lot of competition which helps everyone work hard to improve their skills,” Ciccarello added.
The Blue Devils will play their next game on Friday, April 29 away at Brockport at 3 p.m.