"The Oswego State softball team tried its hardest to stay with St. John Fisher, but in the end, a few rough innings proved costly, as the Lakers dropped both games of the doubleheader on Wednesday afternoon at Laker Field.
"The Lakers (5-10 overall) hung with the Cardinals until the seventh inning in Game 1, losing 7-1, before falling behind early in Game 2, which ended in an 18-0 mercy after five innings.
"St. John Fisher’s Leanne Merchant and Krista Robarge homered twice and Megan Zoerb and Carissa Carlson each added a homerun, as the Cardinals outscored the Lakers 25-1 and outhit Oswego State 29-9.
"In Game 1, Oswego State trailed 2-0 heading into the top of the seventh before the Cardinals unloaded for five runs on five hits. Kayla Goodberlet led of the inning with a single before moving over to second on a sacrifice bunt by Jamie Harmon. Goodberlet advanced to third and scored on a wild pitch by Morgan Lavner. Lavner surrendered back-to-back doubles to Carlson and Shelby Marie before being replaced by starting pitcher Sarah Thayer. Thayer’s first batter of the inning, Robarge, homered to cap off the inning.
"Oswego State freshman Dee Apps homered to lead off the bottom half of the inning, but St. John Fisher’s pitcher got junior outfielder Brittany Carbacio to ground into a fielder’s choice to end the game.
""[St. John Fisher] was tough," head coach Casey Price said. "They are recruited kids. That’s the difference between them and us right now."
"The Cardinals took the lead in the top of the second inning on Robarge’s first RBI of the game. Robarge singled to score Carlson, who doubled to lead off the inning before advancing to third after a single by Marie. Robage finished the game with a team-high three RBIs.
"Merchant homered with two outs in the top of the third inning to give the Cardinals a two-run lead.
"St. John Fisher’s Danielle Leone earned the win on the mound for the Cardinals, pitching a complete game six-hitter. Leone allowed an earned run and struck out five.
"Thayler started the game for the Lakers on the mound, pitching the first three innings before being replaced by Lavner to start the fourth inning. Thayler returned with one out in the top of the seventh in relief of Levner. Thayler gave up three runs on nine hits in 3 2/3 innings to take the loss, while Levner surrendered four runs on six hits in 3 1/3 innings pitched.
"Game 2 between the two clubs was never close. The Cardinals scored five runs in the third and fourth innings to take a commanding 10-0 lead before adding eight runs in the fifth inning.
""This was a tough loss," Price said. "We have some things to work on.
"The team is willing to work hard and come back out this weekend and win a couple games."
"Robarge opened the top of the third inning with a homerun to left field. Merchant later hit a three-run homerun to give the Cardinals a five-run lead. The Cardinals scored five runs again in the fourth inning. Oswego State starting pitcher Jessica Palmitesso got Robarge to strike out swinging and Lauren O’Brien to ground out to the third baseman for the first two outs of the game. But Zoerb’s two-run homer and Carlson’s three-run shot put the Lakers down by double digits.
"The fifth inning got off to a rocky start for the Lakers, as the first two Cardinal batters reached base on errors. Oswego State committed four errors in the game. St. John Fisher loaded the bases with no outs and eventually chased Palmitesso with two outs in the top of the fifth inning. Palmitesso pitched 4 2/3 innings, giving up 11 runs (nine earned) on nine hits. Lavner relieved Palmitesso, but struggled to close out the inning. The Cardinals scored seven runs (three earned) off Lavner.
"Carbacio, Palmitesso and Sammie Schroeter went down in order in the bottom of the fifth inning to end the game via the mercy rule.
""Today was a tough loss," Price said. "[St. John Fisher] is a good hitting club. The team is ready to come back out tomorrow and work on the things that we need to work on. This is a team that wants to spend the extra time and get better."
"The Lakers will host SUNY Fredonia on Friday, April 8, in a doubleheader at Laker Field.
