CORTLAND, N.Y. – The rough start to the Oswego State Baseball team’s season just got a bit worse. After starting the season 5-8 through a tough non-conference schedule, the team opened conference play with one of the toughest opponents there is, the Cortland Red Dragons.

The first game of the the three game set was one the Lakers really are going to want to forget. Jacob Sanders got the start on the mound for the Lakers, but only got two innings into the game. He gave up three runs, on four hits, walking two, hitting a batter and striking out two. Anthony Van Fossen pitched the next four innings for the Lakers, and it didn’t get much better. He allowed six runs on eight hits, walking one, though he did strike out six. The game only went seven innings, so the final frame was pitched by Ryan Paige, who gave up three hits and a run, striking out one. Oswego was kept hitless in this one. Cortland’s Dylan Beers pitched all seven innings of the game, allowing only one walk, and striking out 12 of the 22 batters he faced in the game. Cortland won the game 10-0. The standout batter for Cortland was Mat Bruno. The Red Dragons’ left fielder was 3-5 on the day with a double and drove in three.

The second game of the series was actually game two of Friday’s double header. The Lakers had to bounce back from being no-hit just a few hours later. Unfortunately for the Lakers, it just wasn’t their day. The Red Dragons scored five runs in the first two innings in this one. Thomas Pecchia got the start for Oswego, he also only made it two innings into the game, giving up five runs, only three earned, and seven hits. The Lakers would respond, grabbing a run of their own in the top of the third inning, Jelani Hammer scoring off a Tishawn Featherstone single, though Cortland would take the run right back in the bottom half. The fourth inning was scoreless for both squads, and in the top of the fifth the Lakers looked to mount a comeback. Jelani Hammer started the scoring with a solo-homer, and then a two-run bomb from Featherstone pulling the Lakers to only a two run deficit 6-4. The Lakers once again kept the Red Dragons scoreless in the bottom half of the inning, but it was the sixth inning that Cortland created the insurmountable lead. They scored six runs, five out which came off of two home runs. Oswego couldn’t answer, and the Red Dragons added another three runs to their lead for a 15-4 final after seven innings. Cortland’s Will McCarthy got the win after going four and two thirds innings, giving up three runs on seven hits while striking out four. Alec Conrad pitched most of the game for the Lakers, going four innings while giving up seven runs, four earned, on nine hits and striking out two.

The final game of the set was on Saturday, and once more it was a tough one for the Lakers. Once again the Lakers were held scoreless in this one. They had six hits scattered through the seven inning game. Cortland again got started early, grabbing a run in the first inning, then two more in the third. Another three in the fourth inning knocked the Lakers started Kieran Finnegan out of the game. He finished after three and two thirds innings, giving up six runs, three earned, on seven hits, walking three. Larry Citrola took the bomb from Finnegan and had a good two and a third innings. He only allowed one run on one hit and struck on two. Going into the seventh the Red Dragons held a 7-0 lead, and they scored three in the seventh inning to make it a 10-0 lead and end the game. Relief pitcher Liam Krasney was a star for the Red Dragons’, pitched the final three frames without allowing a hit and striking out three; he also picked up a save. Errors killed the Lakers in this one, with only four of Cortland’s ten runs being earned runs.

The Lakers next series is a double header at home against SUNY Cobleskill on Wednesday, game one is a 1:30 and game two is set for 4:00. The team is now 5-11 this season.

IMAGE PROVIDED BY OSWEGO ATHLETICS