CORTLAND, N.Y. – The second-seeded Oswego State softball team pulled off an improbable comeback in the final inning to defeat No. 5 New Paltz 3-2 in the second game of the SUNYAC Championship on Thursday afternoon at Cortland. Oswego now advances to face the winner of No. 3 Plattsburgh and No. 4 Buffalo State at 11 a.m. on Friday.

With two outs, pinch-runner Kim Dunst on second base, Katie Heselden at the plate and the Lakers trailing the Hawks 2-1, Heselden cut on and missed a third strike. New Paltz began to charge the field in celebration but Heselden broke for first as the third strike hit the dirt. While Heselden reached first safely, Dunst displayed heads-up base running, coming all the way from second to score the equalizer. The Lakers then strung together a pair of two-out singles, beginning with an Erin Sweeney base knock to right to put runners on the corners. Oswego's two-hitter, Jessica Roe, dropped a single in front of the New Paltz left fielder, plating Heselden and allowing the Lakers to walk-off with a victory.

Roe set the stage for a crazy game in the first inning. Sweeney led off the bottom of the frame with a double and Roe managed to double herself, bunting through a wide-open right side. Sweeney came around to score, putting Oswego ahead 1-0, an advantage that held until the sixth inning. The duo of Roe and Sweeney accounted for five of the Lakers' seven hits in the game, while Sarah McCullough and Ashley Lyman each had a single.

Freshman Rebecca Vilchez threw a complete game to earn her 12th victory of the season. The lefty scattered six hits that made way for two earned runs while striking out four Hawks.

The Lakers are now 17-18 on the year. Follow the conference tournament at this link: SUNYAC SOFTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP