The Oswego State Softball team faced off in a double header against the Houghton University Highlanders on March 28.

The Lakers started the first game suddenly behind as the Highlanders scored four runs in the top of the first inning. The Lakers would respond with two runs of their own, as Fiona Higgins hit a single recording two RBIs.

In the bottom of the second, Krista Souders would hit a sacrifice bunt, bringing in Ellie Mahoney which would keep the Lakers only down one.

In the bottom of the third, Mahoney reached first on an error, advancing to second base but she was credited with an RBI as Samantha Morgan reached home and tied the game 4-4.

The Highlanders would answer back in the top of the fourth, adding two runs of their own. In the bottom of the fourth, the Lakers would cut the lead to one, with a single by Morgan that brought Madison Hoeflich home. Then the Lakers would go on to take the lead with a single by Christina Kania, recording two RBIs that would bring the game to a score of 7-6.

The Highlanders would go on a run in the fifth and sixth innings, recording nine runs which proved too formidable for the Lakers as the Highlanders would take game one by a score of 15-8.

The second game would go on to be called off by the officials due to darkness after three innings were completed.

In four innings pitched, Fiona Higgins tallied four strikeouts, while Emma Grasso recorded five strikeouts in three innings. Kania would lead the Lakers in batting, going three for four and recording three RBIs.  

The Lakers have proved that they can win games coming back from their spring trip to Florida, notching a win against RIT University on March 22. It was a true energy boost for this team according to Hoeflich.

“I think it felt great, especially against RIT [University],” Hoeflich said. “We definitely wanted to step it up and get the first win back from Florida. Even though that last game ended with a tie it still was considered a win with just how good the energy was and how happy everyone was to be playing that standard again. We’re just going to keep it going.”

The Lakers did have problems in the second game and that was having multiple innings with runners in scoring position and just not being able to capitalize. Higgins believes that this can be fixed with just a smooth carrying out of their strategy.

“We learned from that situation,” Higgins said. “A lot of it was pitch selection and knowing what to do before we went up to the plate, always having a plan and executing. Moving forward I hope we improve and learn from that.”

Hoeflich believes the team has the potential to be something special.

“As a team we have the potential to be amazing,” Hoeflich said. “I think there is still work to be done but I think it’s just a bunch of puzzle pieces that need to be put together but I think we’re getting very close to where we want to be as a team.”

We are just a week away from conference play for the Lakers, and Higgins believes the key to winning is all about teamwork.

“Playing to our ability, really picking each other up, staying positive and working together as a team to get those wins that we need,” Higgins said.

The Lakers are set to play a doubleheader against Hamilton College, featuring a game at 3:30 p.m. on April 4, followed by a second game at 5:30 p.m. The Lakers will also travel to Plattsburgh on April 7 to play a doubleheader. The first game is slated for 3 p.m. and the second game is slated for 5 p.m.

Photo via: Oswego Athletics