The Oswego State softball team (14-15, 7-9 SUNYAC) stayed in the SUNYAC Championship playoff picture with a split at New Paltz (18-15, 9-7 SUNYAC) on Friday afternoon. Oswego won game one 2-0 over the regionally-ranked Hawks before New Paltz answered with a 2-0 win of its own in the nightcap.
Heading into the final day of the regular season, Oneonta, Oswego, New Paltz, Fredonia and Buffalo State are vying for the final three spots in the postseason tournament. Cortland, Plattsburgh and Geneseo have already clinched a spot. Oswego faces Oneonta in a road doubleheader on Saturday, with first pitch slated for 12 p.m.
GAME ONE – Oswego 2, New Paltz 0:
Erin Sweeney and Sarah McCullough teamed on offense to provide the Lakers a win, while Brittney Sears was untouchable on the mound. Sears threw a complete-game, four-hitter with nine strikeouts and just one walk for here eighth win of the year. The junior's nine strikeouts were her second-most of the season, trailing a 14-strikeout performance in a 4-0 win over SUNY Poly on March 30.
In the third inning, McCullough singled up the middle with one out and moved to second on a foul out. Sweeney then drove in McCullough with a single up the middle of her own. Two innings later, the pair was at it again, this time starting with a one-out triple from McCullough. After Oswego committed its second out, Sweeney doubled in McCullough with a shot to left center.
Jacquie Porreca also finished with a hit in the contest, going 1-for-3 with a single.
GAME TWO – New Paltz 2, Oswego 0:
Despite not giving up an earned run for the second-straight game, Sears took the loss in the nightcap. After two groundouts to start the bottom of the first inning, an infield error extended the frame. New Paltz then strung together a double and a single to drive in two unearned runs, which would end the scoring for the day.
Sears finished with no earned runs, five hits allowed and three strikeouts in six innings of work. At the plate, Tori Trovato, Ashley Lyman and Melissa Mulvaney all finished with one hit apiece.
