The Oswego State baseball team clinched the regular season series over nationally-ranked Cortland with a doubleheader split on the road on Monday afternoon. Oswego`s record is now 15-7 overall and 7-5 in SUNYAC action while No. 4/5 Cortland goes to 22-7, 10-2.
GAME ONE – Oswego 5, Cortland 3:
In what was supposed to be a seven-inning contest, Oswego and Cortland needed extras to decide a winner. The Lakers took the win in the ninth, using a four-run top of the inning to outlast the Red Dragons.
Tim Smith singled up the middle with one out to start the rally, advancing to second on a wild pitch before Eric Hamilton walked. After a pitching change, Myles Kutscher singled through the left side to score Smith and give the Lakers a 2-1 edge.
Oswego was not finished, however, as Tyler Baker singled through the right side to score Hamilton and Kutscher. The Lakers final run came on a Cortland error, as Tim Curry, who had reached base on a hit by pitch, scored after a muffed throw by the third baseman on a failed pickoff attempt.
In the second inning, Oswego got on the board first as Kutscher hit Mike McMullen in on a sacrifice fly to right field after McMullen led the frame off with a single down the right field line.
Smith finished the game 3-for-4 with a run scored while Jordan Gille also had a multiple-hit outing (1-for-3). Baker, Kutscher, McMullen and Scott Buniak all collected one hit.
Tim Cronin earned the win to improve to 3-0 on the season, scattering seven hits over eight innings to allow just one run. The starter also struck out four Red Dragons before Josh Martin entered the game in the ninth to close out for the win.
GAME TWO – Cortland 4, Oswego 0:
Oswego could not muster a run in the second game despite a solid pitching performance from three individuals. Ryan Brinkman took the loss but was reliable in 5.1 innings of work. Brinkman allowed just three runs over the five innings, spreading out seven hits.
Ryan Donovan pitched 1.2 frames in relief, giving up a run on three hits before Dylan Kohlman threw a perfect eighth inning, striking out two of the three batters he faced.
At the plate, John Rauseo paced the Lakers, going 2-for-4. Also finishing with hits were Buniak, Giller, Kyle Liner and Dan Karleski.
Oswego will be back in action at 3 p.m. on Friday when it start a conference road weekend series at Fredonia.
