The Oswego State baseball team defeated top-seeded RIT 5-4 in 11 innings on Saturday morning in the ECAC Upstate Tournament at Damaschke Field in Oneonta. Then, the Lakers defeated Brockport 9-6 in 11 innings in the next round to advance to Sunday's championship round. With a 2-0 record, the Lakers will play the winner of Sunday morning's elimination game between Brockport and Oneonta. Oswego State's first game on Sunday is scheduled for 1 p.m. at SUNY Oneonta's Red Dragon field. Should Oswego State lose the first championship game, they will have another game against their opponent as each team would have just one loss in the double-elimination tournament.
Oswego State is now 17-11 on the season.
Oswego State 5, RIT 4 (11 innings) BOX SCORE
The Lakers scored the go-ahead run in the top of the 11th inning in a rally that started with a single by Tom Benedetto. Andy Salvatore pinch-ran for Benedetto and stole second. Josh Stoetzel reached on an error by the third baseman to put two runners aboard for the Lakers, and a double steal moved them up to second and third. Salvatore came in to score on a sacrifice fly RBI to center field by Mike Levy.
Oswego State's P.J. Cowie earned the win in relief of starting pitcher Dave Widrick. Cowie allowed one hit and two runs (one earned) in 3.2 innings of work. RIT tied the score 4-4 with those runs in the bottom of the ninth to force extra innings.
The Lakers were led at the plate by Wes O'Connor, who was 2-for-4. Dan Pecora and Benedetto were each 2-for-5 with an RBI.
Oswego State 9, Brockport 6 (11 innings) BOX SCORE
The Lakers built a 6-3 lead, but saw the Golden Eagles tie the game in the bottom of the ninth with three runs. Another Oswego State outburst followed in the top of the 11th with three runs. Dan Pecora earned the win in relief for the Lakers.
The 11th-inning rally started with a walk by Evan Shaffer and Brandon Wroblewski was hit by a pitch. Wes O'Connor followed by reaching on an error by the pitcher that allowed both Shaffer and Wroblewski to come home. O'Connor eventually scored on a squeeze bunt by Matt Deveney.
Josh Stoetzel and Mike Levy were both 3-for-5 for Oswego State and K.C. Reardon was 2-for-4 with two RBIs.
Dustin Lefave started for the Lakers and worked 8.1 innings before Pecora finished the game with 2.2 innings of scoreless relief. Pecora had four strikeouts, allowed just one hit and walked nobody.
