The Oswego State women’s softball team opened its season March 14 when the squad traveled to Clermont, Fla., during spring break and played to a 3-4 record in seven games from March 14 to March 18.
The Lakers’ competition stemmed from all over the country, starting off against The Sage Colleges from Albany in the first of two games on March 14.
Junior Alexandra McKay, the team’s designated hitter, went 3-for-4 and drove in four runs in the 7-3 win against the Gators. Sophomore Alexis Nasca started the game for Oswego State and tossed four shutout innings, only allowing four hits and two walks.
After defeating Sage, Oswego State dueled with Wheaton College from Illinois later in the afternoon. The Thunder defeated the Lakers, 12-7, behind a nine-run first inning.
Despite the deficit, Oswego State inched closer to make the score 10-7 after six innings, but could not complete the comeback after giving up two more runs in the seventh and final inning. Nasca went 1-for-4 with three runs batted in in the loss.
The loss was the first of a three-game losing streak that continued against Bates College (located in Lewiston, Maine) and Western Connecticut State. These two losses came on March 15, with the Lakers falling to Bates, 8-4 and Western Connecticut State, 5-2.
However, Oswego State bounced back with back-to-back wins the following day, dispatching Macalester College (located in Minnesota) and the University of Southern Maine.
The Lakers snapped their three-game losing streak by defeating Macalester 8-0 in a five-inning contest and tallied their second 8-0 win of the day when the squad defeated the Huskies, also in five innings.
Alexandria Connelly tossed five shutout innings against Macalester, only allowing two hits in her four-strikeout performance en route to the victory.
Freshman Ashley Lyman, sophomore Jacquie Porreca and Nasca each tallied two RBIs in the win.
Katie Heselden and Nasca combined to shut out Southern Maine in the second game of the day. Senior Sammie Schroeter and freshman Dana Taglioni each knocked in two to pace the Laker offense.
The next three games on the schedule were canceled. The Lakers were set to face off against Washington and Jefferson College at 3 p.m. on March 17 and Worcester State University at 7 p.m. the same day.
Oswego State’s game with Framingham State College, set for March 18, was also canceled.
The Lakers were back in action later on March 18 when they battled with Anderson University from Indiana. Oswego State fell 6-1 to the Ravens. Giving the squad a 3-4 record during the Florida trip.
The team returned to New York and has been preparing for its first taste of SUNYAC action, which will see the Lakers host a doubleheader against SUNY Potsdam (0-6) Friday with first pitch for game one set for 3 p.m. The second game is slated to begin at 5 p.m.
Oswego State will host another doubleheader on Saturday when it takes on SUNY Plattsburgh (2-10). Both games will be matinees, with the first game scheduled for 12 p.m. and game two set for 2 p.m.
The Lakers will also host a doubleheader against Cazenovia College (1-7) on April 2. The two games against the Wildcats will be the Lakers’ last home games until they return to Oswego for an eight-game home stand starting on April 9.
