Oswego, N.Y. — The Oswego State baseball team took to the road to take on the Plattsburgh Cardinals for a three game set Monday and Tuesday, and had a their first home game Wednesday against the University of Rochester. The Lakers were coming off two non-conference losses, but were ready to turn it around and stay undefeated in SUNYAC play and avenge their loss to Rochester last week.  

The first game of Monday’s double header saw the Lakers take an early commanding lead. The Lakers grabbed two runs before an out was made, a third run cross the plate before the second out, and a Tishawn Featherstone three run shot saw the top of the first end 6-0. Kyle Lauria got his second RBI of the game in the second inning, with Lukas Olsson driving one of his own for runs seven and eight of the game. The Lakers had three more runs in the third and led 11-0. A scoreless fourth was followed by Oswego getting one more in the fifth, and the Cardinals finally answering with one of their own in the bottom half. In the sixth, Tishawn Featherstone got his second home run of the game, a solo shot, Ryan Enos drove in two more with a double, and Kyle Lauria hit a two run homer to give the Lakers a 17-1 lead. The seventh inning was when the Cardinals finally found their stride, scoring five of their six in the game. The Lakers got two more in the top of the ninth, and won the game 19-6. Anthony Van Fossen pitched five innings, striking out six in the game. Kyle Lauria had a game high five RBI’s and five hits in the game.

Game two of the double header saw Plattsburgh find the scoreboard first. A scoreless first inning and top of the second was followed by the Cardinals grabbing two runs in the bottom half. Oswego would answer with one in the third inning. The fourth was when Oswego finally found the lead. With the bases loaded, Ryan Enos would reach on a fielders choice and one run would score and tie the game. A Kyle Lauria single to right would score the leading run. A double steal with Lauria and Enos saw Lauria get second and Enos steal home. The Lakers left the inning with a 4-2 lead. The fifth and sixth innings were scoreless. In the top of the seventh, the Lakers grabbed four more runs, and the Lakers won 8-2. Kieran Finnegan pitched all seven innings for Oswego, striking out 10, with only five hits and one walk. Kyle Lauria again led the Lakers in RBIs with three, with Ryan Enos, Paul Tammaro, and Tishawn Featherstone each scoring two runs.

The final game of the series was played on Tuesday. The first inning was again scoreless. Oswego got their first three runs of the game in the second, with Plattsburgh answering with one of their own. The third was led off with a CJ McCarthy solo shot, and Paul Tammaro would drive on the Lakers fifth later in the inning. Oswego got one more in the fourth, Kyle Lauria scoring on a wild pitch. The Cardinals crossed the plate for the second time in the bottom of the fifth, but Ryan Weiss would drive in two more for the Lakers in the sixth to extend their lead to 8-2. The Cardinals got three in the bottom of the seventh, but once again Oswego answered the following frame, scoring nine in the top of the eighth to extend the lead to 17-5, which would be the final score of the game. Ryan Weiss was the Lakers RBI leader with four, as well as leading the team in hits with four. Tyler Pecchia started the game for the Lakers, going four inning, striking out, allowing four hits, and one unearned run. He was relieved by Connor VanDreason, who went two innings in relief, and got the win for the game.

A Wednesday afternoon set with the University of Rochester Yellowjackets was game four of a busy week for the Lakers. The second and final matchup of the year between the two sides saw Rochester get on the board before the Lakers could even get an at bat. A leadoff home run got the Yellowjackets on the board early. A two-out single later in the inning drove in two more, and Rochester had a 3-0 lead after just half an inning. In the bottom of the second, a Julien Drew single brought home CJ McCarthy and got the Lakers on the board. Innings three through five were scoreless, and in the top the sixth, Rochester found the scoreboard once more. An error in right allowed a runner to score from third, and Rochester had a 4-1 lead. In the bottom of the seventh, the Lakers would strike for two more and bring the game to 4-3. The eighth was scoreless, and the game would be called before the ninth due to lightning. Ryan Enos led the Lakers with two hits and two RBIs, CJ McCarthy drew two walks in the game and got a hit. Sean Dertinger started the game for Oswego, going five innings, allowing four runs three earned, striking out four, walking two, and giving up five hits. The Laker bullpen shut down the Yellow Jackets, only allowing one hit after the fifth.

Oswego now has a 16-6 (5-0 SUNYAC) record. They are the 21st ranked team in the country. They have a three game set with the Oneonta Red Dragons in Oneonta starting Friday with a double header.

PHOTO COURTESY OF OSWEGO ATHLETICS