Oswego, N.Y. – The Oswego State Lakers found themselves in a weekend set against school rivals the Plattsburgh Cardinals. The Lakers came into the series on a six game SUNYAC win streak, though were on a three game losing streak after taking back-to-back losses to St. John Fisher the previous Saturday and a mid-week loss to Ithaca. Plattsburgh came in on a four game win streak, including a sweep of the New Paltz Hawks.
Game one of the three game set was on Friday, and saw Kieran Finnegan on the bump for the Lakers taking on Kolby Mordecki for the Cardinals. Oswego took the lead scoring the first run in the bottom of the second on a Jelani Hamer steal of home. Connor Gonzalski grabbed the lead in the top of the third on a two run homer. Owen Parliment tied it straight back up with a solo shot in the bottom of the third. Once again Plattsburgh wasn’t letting Oswego keep the lead, Jack Defayette singling and scoring Adam Wein to give a 3-2 lead. After a couple of scoreless frames, the the Lakers finally grabbed the lead back, Jacob Levine hitting a two-run homer for a 4-3 Oswego lead. The game ended with that score line. Kieran Finnegan pitched seven strong innings, giving up the three runs, striking out 10, and walking two. Anthony Van Fossen pitched the final two innings without allowing a runs, striking out three and grabbing a save. Kolby Mordecki also pitched seven, gave up all four runs, struck out 11, and walked three.
Game two was moved to Saturday morning, due to predicted weather later on Saturday. Chris Santis took the mound for Plattsburgh, taking on Alek Conrad for Oswego. Oswego took an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first, as Jelani Hamer stole third and then scored on a throwing error by the catcher. In the top of the third, Plattsburgh tied it on a Connor Gonzalski single. The game finally came untied in the sixth. It started with a Jack Defayette two-run double. Two batters later, Adam Wein doubled scoring Defayette, Plattsburgh took a 4-1 lead. The extended their lead to four runs in the eighth on a Nick Cergol RBI single. The Lakers tried to mount a comeback in the bottom of the ninth. With two runners on, Tishawn Featherstone singled scoring both. That brought up the Lakers most dangerous hitter Owen Parliment, who struck out looking to end the game. Chris Santic went 7.2 innings, allowing only one run walking two and striking out five. Adam Veit, who played the first eight innings at shortstop, came in for the ninth, and got the save. For Oswego Alek Conrad went five innings, gave up one run, without giving a walk and striking out three. Larry Citrola was the first out of the bullpen for Oswego, and he gave up three runs, in two-thirds of an inning and got the loss.
Game three of the series was game two of Saturday’s double header. Adam Veit got the start for Plattsburgh after pitching the ninth of the previous game, for Oswego it was freshman Jonah Shearer. This game was a lot different than the other two had been. It started with a five run second inning for Oswego. It started with a Tim Schinto RBI single. Then CJ McCarthy hit a triple that scored two more runs, and then on a throwing error, made it home clearing the bases and giving Oswego a 4-0 lead. A couple batters later, Tishawn Featherstone hit a single, that would score Jelani Hammer. Plattsburgh grabbed a run in the third and fourth innings, making it 5-2. In the bottom of the fourth Oswego put up another three runs to extend it to 8-2. RBIs by McCarthy, Hamer, and Featherstone. After the top of the sixth, a lightning warning put the game into a 30 min delay, and then the weather finally hit and the game was called, Oswego winning 8-2. Jonah Shearer had an excellent start for the Lakers, pitching 5.1 innings, allowing two runs, neither of them earned, walking one, and striking out five. Adam Veit was charged with all eight of Oswego’s runs, six of them were earned. He only struck out one batter and walked one.
The Lakers now head to a home double header against Clarkson on Tuesday with record of 15-15 (8-4 SUNYAC). They are fourth in the SUNYAC.
IMAGE PROVIDED BY ERIN BLANK, WTOP10 PHOTOGRAPHY DEPARTMENT
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