NEW PALTZ, N.Y. -- Fredonia survived a ninth-inning scare and emerged with a 9-8 win over New Paltz in the first game of the SUNYAC baseball doubleheader Wednesday. New Paltz bounced back to win the second game, 6-3.

Down 9-7 in the opener, the host Hawks loaded the bases with no outs against Blue Devil reliever Steve Zaprowski (Williamsville, N.Y./Williamsville South). The senior right-hander retired the next three batters, including one on a sacrifice fly followed by a game-ending strikeout, to record his fourth save of the season.

Junior right-hander Luke Kuczewski (Orchard Park, N.Y./Orchard Park) improved to 4-1 this spring. He pitched the first six innings and allowed four runs on six hits while striking out four he was relieved with his team holding a 7-4 lead.

Offensively, the Blue Devils (12-11 overall, 3-8 SUNYAC) had 14 hits, including two each by senior J.T. Angora (Rochester, N.Y./Rush-Henrietta), senior Daniel Goodbread (Tully, N.Y./Tully), sophomore Nicolas Fiore (Webster, N.Y./Webster Thomas), sophomore Joseph Croce (Webster, N.Y./Webster Thomas), and freshman Patrick Bigham (Rochester, N.Y./Greece Odyssey). Bigham also collected three RBI.

The Blue Devils took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first of Game 2 on RBI single by Angora and a New Paltz error. The Hawks took a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the inning before Angora delivered a game-tying double in the top of the third. The Hawks again wrested momentum with three runs in the last of the third off reliever and losing pitcher Nicholas Lawlor (Webster, N.Y./Webster Schroeder).

Fredonia's third pitcher of the day, senior Ryan Landers (Fairport, N.Y./Fairport), allowed two hits and struck out three in three scoreless innings.

The Blue Devils visit Brockport for a SUNYAC doubleheader on Saturday.