The Oswego State softball team continued its struggles in conference play, dropping a doubleheader against Buffalo State on Saturday afternoon at Laker Field, 10-5 in Game 1 and 20-1 in a mercy rule-shortened Game 2 .
The Bengals outscored Oswego State 30-6 and outhit the Lakers 28-10 in the weekend series. The losses to Buffalo State, along with two losses to SUNY Fredonia on Friday, dropped the Lakers to 1-7 in SUNYAC.
The Bengals jumped out to a four-run lead after the top half of the first inning. The first three batters reached base safely to load the bases with no outs. Buffalo State’s Sam Strapson singled with the bases loaded, but Jordan Dudish was called out at home on the play. Oswego State starting pitcher Jessica Palmitesso struggled with her control, walking three and hitting Breanna Fenski all in the first inning with the bases loaded.
Oswego State scored a run in the bottom of the inning when freshman Katie Bredin scored from third after Dee Apps stole second.
Trailing 5-2 in the bottom of the fourth inning, the Lakers were able to push home two runs to cut the Bengals lead to one. Freshman Paige Anderson walked with the bases loaded to score freshman Sammie Schroeter from third. Sophomore Sue Schoff followed with another walk to score Bredin. With one out and the bases loaded, Apps was thrown out at home on a fielder’s choice and freshman Laura Kahn struck out to end the inning.
The Bengals responded with two runs in the fifth, one run in the sixth and two runs in the seventh to widen their lead to six runs. Strapson delivered a two-run home run in the seventh inning with Dudish on first base. Strapson’s home run was the lone home run in Game 1. She finished Game 1 3-for-5 with a home run, two RBIs and two runs scored.
The Lakers again loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh inning with two outs. Apps walked to force junior Bre Meleen home from third to cut the deficit to five. Apps finished 3-for-4 with a double and an RBI for the Lakers. Buffalo State Kaylee Lekki got Anderson to strike out to end the game.
Lekki pitched a complete game seven-hitter, allowing five runs (two earned), striking out six and walking eight to earn her first win of the season. Palmitesso also pitched a complete game. She surrendered 10 runs (eight earned) on 11 hits, striking out 10 and walking nine. Palmitesso dropped to 3-8 this season on the mound.
Two nine-run innings for the Bengals proved to be the downfall for the Lakers, as they were routed by 19 runs in five innings.
Oswego State starting pitcher Sarah Thayer could not get out of the second inning, surrendering nine runs, none of which were earned. She allowed six hits, dropping to 2-4 on the season.
Scoreless after the first inning, the Bengals scored nine runs in the top of the second inning to break the game open. The Lakers committed two errors in the inning, leading to a plethora of unearned runs. The Bengals used six singles, one double and two walks to push across nine runs in the inning.
The Lakers scored their lone run in the game in the bottom of the second inning. Freshman Beth Jerome recorded an RBI groundout with the bases loaded that scored Schoff from third base. Buffalo State starting pitcher Sam Tilkens went all five innings, giving up one run on three hits, striking out two and walking two to improve to 3-4 on the mound this season.
After scoring two runs in the top of the fourth inning, the Bengals again exploded for nine runs in the top of the fifth inning. An error by Palmitesso with two outs paved the way for a long inning for the Lakers. Sophomore Lindsay Goff hit a grand slam off Palmitesso to bring across four unearned runs. Before the inning came to an end, Samantha Lafer recorded an RBI double and Shelly Maggard connected on a two-RBI single.
Palmitesso relieved Thayer with two outs in the second inning and went the rest of the way for the Lakers. She finished with four strike outs and two walks, giving up 11 runs (two earned) on 11 hits.
The Laker offense struggled throughout Game 2, recording only three hits. Oswego State is batting a SUNYAC-worst .263 and does not appear in the top five of any major offensive statistical category in SUNYAC play.
Oswego State looks to end its six-game losing streak when it travels to play SUNY Brockport in a doubleheader on Friday, April 15.
