The Oswego State baseball team began its 2020 campaign last Saturday in Berea, Ohio, with a trio of games vs. No. 5 Heidelberg University, Baldwin Wallace University and La Roche University.

Heidelberg University fell behind early courtesy of a Lukas Olsson sacrifice fly, but it poured on the runs after that. The Lakers dropped the Saturday opener by a score of 4-2. While it was not the start Oswego State was looking for, it would turn around on Sunday putting itself back in the win column after a double-header against Baldwin Wallace University and La Roche University.

The first game against the Yellow Jackets was a high scoring affair, considering the first-pitch temperature on Sunday morning was a frigid 34 degrees. The game ended 12-8 in favor of the Lakers. In the game, sophomore Kieran Finnegan took the mound in his first start of the year, posting four strikeouts while allowing eight hits and four earned runs in five innings pitched. Head coach Scott Landers was pleased with Finnegan’s performance, despite the unfavorable conditions. 

“I think he controlled the game,” Landers said. “He got in a little trouble in the fourth inning, things didn’t go his way. They weren’t bad pitches, [but] he let up two doubles in a row on splits that were down. I tip my cap to those guys, [they] are pretty good hitters. They went down and got them, but overall I was pleased where he was at. He threw about 70 pitches for his outing, right where he should be. Hopefully we move past the last weekend, and we build on that and get better and better.”

The left-hander from West Nyack was not too thrilled that he gave up four runs in his first outing, but he was happy with his execution in the win.

“They got around, and they were able to hit some of my pitches,” Finnegan said. “I threw good pitches, and they just put their bats out there. Runs scored. I was able to locate a lot and was able to get the ball where I wanted. Then hits happened and errors happened. It’s baseball.”

Last season, Finnegan made five starts in 10 appearances and was certainly a standout among his freshman class. He sported a 3.47 ERA in 2019 and sat down 23 batters in his first year as a Laker. As a pitcher, work needs to be done every day in order to improve on the mound and that is what Finnegan does. Whether it is learning a new pitch or improving location, Landers loves his work ethic and how much progress he has made since coming to Oswego State.

“Pitching is a work in progress year after year after year, really day after day, so he has done his work,” Landers said. “His split has gotten better. He developed his split last year and his [velocity] has gotten better. I think he is coming out of the right tunnels with his fastball, his split and his breaking ball. The thing I have really been pleased with him over the last couple weeks is his command has gotten better, especially down in the zone. When he gets in trouble, he is up in the zone.”

The third game of the weekend resulted in an 8-4 win over La Roche University, and the bats were still alive. The Lakers jumped out to a 5-1 lead, after three innings, but the Redhawks kept it close. They scored two runs in the fourth and one in the sixth to cut the deficit. But with a 5-4 lead in the bottom of the seventh, Oswego State pulled away, driving in three runs to expand its lead to four. 

By the time the ninth inning came along, sophomore Erik Dusseldorp closed the Redhawks out. He faced four batters, walking one and striking out the other three. It was the tale of the sophomores this weekend, as first baseman Ryan Weiss joined the party at the dish. Weiss went 2-2 with three RBIs and two walks adding on to the already impressive offensive performance on Sunday.

Looking on to next weekend, the Lakers will travel to Wesley College in Dover, Delaware and Salisbury State in Salisbury, Maryland. Landers and the Oswego State baseball team have found success at Wesley College, including last year during a 22-4 routing of the Wolverines. Landers was impressed with last season’s victory but knows that the game on Saturday, Feb. 29, will not be an easy task. 

“They have been better in the past than they were last year,” Landers said. “I know they had some injuries and some other issues. We have to go in there every inning and every game. We [have to] win two on Saturday and go to Salisbury feeling good and win that one as well.”

Photo by Casey Stone | The Oswegonian