The Oswego State baseball team split a nonconference doubleheader with host Utica College on Wednesday afternoon at UC Baseball Field. Scott Buniak stole two bases in the nightcap, tying the College's career record for steals, matching Jamie Rutherford's 55 from 1982-1985.
Earning the split moves Oswego's record to 21-13 on the year while the Pioneers go to 9-21.
GAME ONE – Utica 4, Oswego 3:
The Lakers struggled to hold a 2-0 lead it gained in the first inning, allowing a four-run third for Utica that proved too much to overcome. Oswego cut the deficit to one at 4-3 with a run in the top of the fourth inning but could not muster another to knot the score.
Cody LaFlamme fell to 0-2 on the year despite a solid complete-game outing, striking out seven Pioneer batters while surrendering four runs on eight hits.
Six different Lakers had one hit apiece, including Michael Mascari and Jordan Giller each recording doubles. Buniak, Tim Smith, Myles Kutscher and Tyler Baker were the other Oswego players with hits. Kutscher, Baker and Mike McMullen all finished with a RBI apiece.
GAME TWO – Oswego 7, Utica 6:
The Lakers exploded for 16 hits in the second game and used a six-run fifth to clinch the victory. In game two, eight different batters for Oswego tallied hits, with seven of those having multiple-hit days. Dan Karleski led the way with three hits while Buniak, Smith, McMulle, Giller, Joe Paskevich and John Rauseo each nabbed two.
Smith and McMullen each had doubles with Smith driving in a team-high three runs. Giller had two RBI while freshmanEric Hamilton, the other Laker with a hit, had one RBI.
On the mound, senior Ryan Donovan improved to 1-0 on the year in the start. Donovan went 4.2 innings, allowing just three runs, only two of which were earned, while scattering six hits. Josh Martin pitched the final 1.1 frames, giving up three runs on four hits while striking out one.
Oswego will return to action in its final home stand of the year at 1 p.m. on Saturday when it hosts Rochester Institute of Technology in a doubleheader.
