The nationally-ranked Oswego State baseball team split a pair of games with St. John Fisher College on Saturday afternoon at Dugan Yard. Oswego, ranked No. 23 in this week's D3baseball.com poll, used a come-from-behind effort to capture the first game 4-3 before suffering its first loss of the season 10-0 to the Cardinals in the nightcap. With the split, the Lakers are now 9-1 while Fisher goes to 7-5.
OSWEGO 4, FISHER 3:
Fisher entered the ninth inning with a 3-2 lead and needed just three outs to hand Oswego its first loss of the year. The Lakers would not let that happen, however, as Eric Hamilton began the inning with a double to right center. Jordan Giller would not be outdone in the next at-bat, pulling a double of his own into the gap in left center, driving in E. Hamilton to tie up the contest. After a strike out, John Barnes got the bats going again, singling to advance Giller to just 90-feet from regaining the edge. Fisher elected to switch pitcher and Eli Holton welcomed the thrower with a single to third base that drove in Giller. Oswego then made two consecutive outs to left field to send the game into the bottom of the ninth with a 4-3 advantage.
The Cardinals led off with a single and then sacrificed the runner to scoring position with a sacrifice bunt. On the next play, Mike Roman lined out to left field and the Lakers doubled up the runner for leaving early from second base. That ended the game with Oswego still unblemished on the season.
Holton and Robert Donnelly paced the Lakers with two hits apiece. Also finishing with hits were Wes Randall,Brian Hamilton, E. Hamilton, Giller, Myles Kutscher and Barnes.
On the mound, Brian Nolan earned the win in four innings of relief, allowing just three hits while striking out two Cardinals. Tim Cronin started on the hill, throwing five innings of six-hit baseball, giving up three earned runs while fanning four batters.
FISHER 10, OSWEGO 0:
In the day's second game, Oswego was only able to muster four hits against four Cardinal pitchers. Those hits came from B. Hamilton, Giller and Kutscher.
Errors played a role in the game as the Lakers committed three in the tilt. Starter Miles Kelly lasted 4.1 innings, giving up seven runs, only four of which were earned. Andrew Morano, Nathan Boughton andBrandon Schultzkie combined for the final 3.2 innings, allowing six hits and three runs, with one of those going as unearned.
The Lakers will return to the diamond next Saturday in Auburndale, Fla. as they begin both their spring break trip and SUNYAC slate with a doubleheader against Fredonia in the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational. Games are scheduled for 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.
