The Oswego State softball team was looking to make a statement against Hamilton College on April 4 ahead of their doubleheader at Plattsburgh State on April 7.
The games did not go well for the Lakers with them losing the first game 14-0 and the second 11-2. Right away in the first inning, the Hamilton Continentals got off to a hot start. Katlynn McGivney led off with a single and would swipe second. A fielding error by starting pitcher Maria Lutz put Emma Tansky on, and a passed ball shortly after put two runners in scoring position. The Continentals scored both of them on infield singles before Lutz mitigated the damage with a strikeout to end the inning.
The offensive onslaught for Hamilton continued in the second, after an RBI double, fielder’s choice and an RBI triple brought the lead up to five for Hamilton. The third inning saw the Lakers get their first hit of the contest on a Madison Hoeflich single, however Teagan Graham pitched her way out of it as she did throughout each jam this time around.
Graham pitched well, stranding four runners on base while throwing a complete game with three strikeouts; only allowing two hits and three walks in the process. While each team put up goose eggs in the scoring column throughout the third and fifth innings, the fourth had enough scoring for both games with Hamilton tallying nine runs on seven hits and four errors.
It was a full team effort that is hard to come by, with every starter either having at least one RBI, with no one surpassing two RBI’s, or in the case of Mikayla Worzel a 2-2 day with two runs scored. The momentum from this one originally did not seem like it would carry over to game two.
Oswego started the game strong, with Fiona Higgins pitching a shutout first. A trio of singles by Tai Smith, Samantha Morgan and Higgins would load the bases for Christina Kania, who delivered with a single into center field scoring two. Kylie Detz took a hit by a pitch for the team to load the bases again with two outs, yet Natalie Beebe punched Jessica Thayer out swinging to keep the deficit at two.
Beebe had each of her pitches working from the start. She only allowed one more hit the rest of the game. She mixed her pitches to perfection on her way to a nine strikeout, one walk complete game. Adding three hits as well, Beebe was determined to do whatever she can for her team to win.
It was also smooth sailing for Higgins and the Lakers, throwing a no-hitter through two innings before Hamilton would erupt for five hits and runs scored in the third. They would keep the pressure on in the fourth inning as well, knocking out Fiona Higgins after one out recorded and eventually adding four runs. Chelsea Sellars would pitch the rest of the way for the Lakers, allowing two runs over the final 1.2 innings.
For Hamilton College, catcher Ella Heftved slugged her way to four RBI’s, Hadley Rogers drove in two with a double, and leadoff hitter Katlynn McGivney set the table with three hits. It was an impressive two game set for them, improving to 13-11 on the season and 16-20 head-to-head against Oswego.
It was not the start to conference play the Lakers were hoping for. While it is still early, the Lakers record is now 3-11-1. They travel to Plattsburgh State to take on the Cardinals on April 7. Gametime starts at 3 p.m.
Photo via: Oswego Athletics
