It was not a strong doubleheader for Lakers softball on April 19 as Oswego State fell to Clarkson University in two nonconference meetings. The first game was a high-scoring thriller, with the Golden Knights beating the Lakers 7-5. 

The Golden Knights started the first inning off strong, scoring a run on no hits. Lakers starting pitcher and two-way player Fiona Higgins struggled with her control on the mound early, walking the first two batters. After a stolen base and a ground out advanced the runners to second and third base, a dropped third strike to Zoey Kovach let Bridget Twaits score from third for the first run of the ballgame. 

It would not be until the third inning until anyone scored again, this time Clarkson striking due to multiple errors in the field for the Lakers. Kovach would once again reach base with a single, and another passed ball along with an error from shortstop Ariana Giunassi gave her a trip across home plate and Clarkson a 2-0 lead. 

On the mound for the Golden Knights, Riley Page was dealing early. Giving up a leadoff single, yet striking out the next six batters in order. The third inning for the Lakers saw them turn the page. Singles from Kylie Detz and Madison Hoeflich, along with a walk for Higgins loaded the bases with two outs. Samantha Morgan then took one for the team with a hit-by-pitch for Oswego State’s first run of the contest. Ellie Mahoney next reached first on an error by the pitcher, costing her two unearned runs and the lead. Page would shake that off though, and left the third inning with nine strikeouts. 

The Golden Knights wasted no time in a deficit however, scoring after back-to-back singles in the fourth inning (with a passed ball sprinkled in to advance the runner into scoring position). Higgins mitigated the damage with two strikeouts, and would then help herself by driving in two with a single in the bottom half of the inning to put the Lakers ahead 5-3. 

The difference maker would happen in the sixth inning. After a leadoff groundout, singles in three consecutive at bats put the Lakers defense on edge. Higgins would strike out opposing starting pitcher Page, but a wild pitch and two passed balls within the same at-bat would give Clarkson a 6-5 lead that they would never look back from. As a matter of fact, they would only continue to add to it. 

The seventh inning started with back to back singles by Elizabeth Greco and Becky Kennedy-Titsworth, and after a fielder’s choice brought Greco to third base, Bridget Twaits drove her in to add the cherry on top of the win. Devin Fitzpatrick got the save after pitching the final one and two thirds innings pitched; meanwhile Fiona Higgins would take the loss after a complete game and giving up four earned runs. 

The second game got under way immediately after, but it would prove to be much less of a nail biter. Clarkson’s offense got unleashed in this one, winning 10-1 after five innings of play. The player of the game was without a doubt Devin Fitzpatrick, who not only took the mound again to throw five innings of one run ball, but offensively had two hits and three runs batted in on a three run blast in the fourth inning. Other than Fitzpatrick, standouts include Bridget Twaits, who had three hits and a three run home run of her own in that same inning; and Zoey Kovach, driving in two with a double and a single.

For the Lakers, their lone run came on a fourth inning double by Christina Kania. It has been a disappointing season thus far for Oswego State softball, however third baseman Tai Smith realizes that they still have room to grow. 

“I feel like we always look at the negatives after every game, but looking at the positives and taking what we did well in order to set goals and achieve them helps keep our minds right,” Smith said. 

There is no clear favorite in the SUNYAC conference this year, and the Lakers are one of many teams looking to take advantage of that. 

“This year, I feel like the SUNYAC conference is up for grabs. In the past there’s always been one or two top teams, but this year whoever plays the cleanest ball is gonna win,” Smith said. 

Time will tell who that top seed in the conference will be. The Lakers will look to bounce back on April 21 when they head on the road against SUNY Geneseo in a doubleheader, before facing off for two at SUNY Brockport April 22. 

Photo by: Erin Blank