Struggling to score runs throughout the afternoon Wednesday, April 17, the Oswego State baseball team (13-12, 6-6 SUNYAC) dropped both games of a home doubleheader to Cortland (28-3, 9-3), 4-0 and 5-2.
The Lakers remain in fourth place in the conference standings with just a half-game lead over Oneonta.
In the first game, Oswego State failed to grab the early lead leaving the bases loaded in the bottom of the first after retiring the first three Cortland hitters in a row. Cortland grabbed the lead by plating two in the fifth and scoring unearned runs in the sixth and seventh each. The Lakers had another great opportunity to drive in runs, but left the bases loaded again in the sixth inning and going down in order in the seventh.
Adam Bishop (Sr., Camillus, N.Y.) fell to 2-2 on the season with the loss, going six innings and allowing three runs, two earned, and scattering seven hits over seven innings on the mound. The Lakers could not solve Red Dragon starter Kyle Barkley, who threw a four-hit shutout in the complete game win.
Game two of the afternoon proved to be a pitcher's duel between Laker starter Thor Miller (Jr., Miller Place, N.Y.) and Cortland's Brandon McClain. The Red Dragons were the first to strike by tallying a run in the seventh on Miller, his only run allowed in the game. Oswego State came back with two runs of its own in the seventh, tying the game on a single to left field by Kyle Liner (So., Milford, N.Y.) scoring Mike McMullen (Jr., Syracuse, N.Y.). The Lakers took the lead on a towering double to right center field by Scott Buniak (Jr., Clifton Park, N.Y.) who then was caught in a run-down long enough to bring Liner home. Cortland buckled down, scoring two runs each in the eighth and ninth innings off the Laker relief effort to seal the 5-2 win.
Miller pitched a solid 6.1 innings, surrendering just one run on four hits in the no-decision. Ryan Donovan (Jr., Utica, N.Y.) picked up his first loss of the season to fall to 2-1 on the year. McClain struck out seven in as many innings, giving up two runs and four hits in the win.
Oswego State continues its home stand Friday, April 19, when it hosts Fredonia in a vital conference matchup against Fredonia starting at 3 p.m.
Click for Box Score 1.
Click for Box Score 2,
