The Oswego State baseball team picked up its first win over nationally-ranked Cortland since April 2, 2006, as the Lakers split a doubleheader with the Red Dragons, winning game one 3-1 and dropping game two 12-1, Thursday at Laker Baseball Field. Oswego snapped a seven-game losing skid with the victory game one, and also snapped a ten-game winning streak by Cortland.  The series split places Oswego State at 11-11 on the season with a 1-8 SUNYAC record, while putting Cortland at 19-6 for the year with an 8-1 SUNYAC mark.

 

Laker pitcher Dustin Lefave collected the win in game one, scattering five hits over the course of a complete game with eight strikeouts and three walks. Cortland pitcher Mike Assmann took the loss, pitching 7.1 innings, also striking out eight, but allowed ten hits. All runs scored in the game for both sides were unearned.

 

The Lakers got started in the second inning as a Cortland defensive miscue set up a bases loaded situation.  Dan Maloney scored the first of three runs in the frame as two more runs came across later following a pivotal two-RBI single by Mike Stark plated Ed Charles and Matt Miller.

 

Cortland posted its only run of the game after Adam Smith was hit by a pitch with two outs and moved around the bases as a result of two Oswego State throwing errors.

 

Lefave worked his way out of jams in the last three innings, but strike out four of the Red Dragon's last five batters to seal the win.

 

Cortland's bats woke up with a vengeance in game two, however, scoring 12 runs on 14 hits. The Lakers would commit four critical errors over the course of the second game. Cortland pitcher Michael Mahay went the distance on the mound, striking out ten with no free passes. Laker relief pitcher Pat McElduff suffered the loss, going 1.1 innings allowing five earned runs. Jon Silva closed out the game in 3.1 innings, striking out four and walking one.

 

Oswego State attempted to stage a two-out rally in the seventh inning and avoided a shutout when Dylan Parmenter singled in Tom Curry, who ripped a double over the center fielder's head, but the damage had already been done and Cortland quickly silenced the comeback.

 

The Lakers now travel to New Paltz for a three-game series that opens with a doubleheader on Saturday at noon.