FREDONIA, N.Y. -- Junior right-hander Luke Kuczewski (Orchard Park, N.Y./Orchard Park) pitched into the ninth after his teammates scored twice in the sixth with two outs as Fredonia defeated Oneonta, 5-3, in the first game of a three-game SUNYAC series at Ludwig Field.

Kuczewski improved to 4-1 and the Blue Devils upped their mark to 11-8 overall and 2-5 in the conference. Senior right-hander Steve Zaprowski (Williamsville, N.Y./Williamsville South) got the final three outs for his third save.

The Blue Devils broke a 3-3 tie when senior Derek Fie (Corning, N.Y./Corning East) doubled to lead off the sixth, went to third on an infield groundout, and scored on a throwing error with two outs. J.T. Angora (Rochester, N.Y./Rush-Henrietta), a senior, then lined a triple to right-center to plate an insurance run.

Kuczewski retired Oneonta in order in the seventh and eighth innings before issuing a lead-off walk in the ninth. He exited after allowing nine hits, walking four, and striking out three. Zaprowski needed just nine pitches for the save and drop Oneonta to 7-17 overall and 3-7 in SUNYAC.

Fredonia took a 3-0 lead in the last of the first on an RBI single by Angora, a grounder back to the mound by senior Daniel Goodbread (Tully, N.Y./Tully), and a double to right-center by senior Joshua Crocetti (Rochester, N.Y./Hilton). Oneonta battled back with three runs in the fourth.

The series resumes Saturday with a doubleheader scheduled to start at 10 a.m.