The Oswego State softball team swept its third-straight SUNYAC doubleheader with a pair of victories over New Paltz on Saturday at Laker Softball Field. Oswego currently sports a 9-3 conference mark and a 13-13 overall record while boasting a six-game winning streak. New Paltz falls to 14-16 overall and 8-6 in SUNYAC action.
Between the two contests, Oswego honored its three seniors – Katie Heselden, Ashley Lyman and Melissa Mulvaney – with an on-field ceremony for Senior Day.
OSWEGO 9, NEW PALTZ 2:
Oswego's first game was never in question from the bottom of the first on. With the bases loaded and two outs, Joelle Nesci took to the batter's box and bombed a grand slam over the left-center field fence. She plated Jessica Roe and Lyman – who both singled earlier in the inning – and Erin Sweeney, who reached via a base on balls.
It was just the first four of a six-RBI contest for Nesci, who singled in the third frame to push Roe and Lyman home for a 6-0 Laker advantage. In the sixth, Oswego went yard back-to-back for its final three runs. Sweeney knocked a two-run shot out of the park to score herself and pinch-runner Holly Romeo before Rebecca Vilchez crushed a solo homer to dead center in the next at-bat.
Vilchez was most important in the circle, throwing a complete-game, five-hitter, allowing just two unearned runs. The freshman improved to 8-4 on the season with the victory.
Oswego managed 10 hits against the Hawks, led by Lyman, Roe and Nesci's two-hit performances. Sweeney, Vilchez, Mulvaney and Heselden each finished with a base knock to help take down New Paltz.
OSWEGO 5, NEW PALTZ 1:
Roe picked up her fifth win of the year on the rubber with 4.1 innings tossed. The freshman scattered four hits, held the Hawks scoreless and struck out one batter. Vilchez threw the final 2.2 frames, garnering her second save of the season. She gave up just one run, which came courtesy of a wild pitch.
At the plate, the Lakers earned their five runs in the first three odd innings. In the first, Lyman singled to score Vilchez. Two innings later, Roe helped her chances of earning a triumph on the rubber by doubling to left field to send Vilchez and Heselden home. The final runs for Oswego came from a Lyman two-run blast. Sweeney was on the base paths as she singled to left to lead off the frame.
Oswego tallied nine hits in game two, eight of which were split evenly between Sweeney, Lyman, Roe and Heselden. Mulvaney had the other Laker base knock.
The Lakers will return to action at 11 a.m. on Sunday when they look to protect their perfect 6-0 home record in a doubleheader against Oneonta.
