Photo courtesy of Debby Nolan

WINTER HAVEN, Fla. – The Oswego State baseball team defeated the Fredonia Blue Devils in both ends – 4-1 and 4-2 – of a conference-play opening doubleheader on Friday afternoon at Chain of Lakes Park Stadium. Oswego improves to 11-4 and 2-0 in the SUNYAC, while Fredonia falls to 8-5 and 0-2 in league play.

Oswego 4 Fredonia 1 (9 inn.)

Oswego scored a pair of runs each in both the second and third innings in the contest. Coupled with a strong pitching performance by Mitchell Cavanagh, it was more than enough.

John Barnes began the second-inning scoring by reaching base after being hit by a pitch on a 2-2 count. The junior moved to the top of the diamond after Mike Dellicarri singled during the next at bat. Both players would eventually score following an RBI groundout by Robert Donnelly and a Kyle Dinges' double in the gap.

Subsequent to the second, Oswego plated two more runs in the following frame. Kyle Simmons placed a ball perfectly between the third-base bag and the left-field line to earn a double. After Eric Hamilton was plunked and Barnes earned a walk, Dellicarri earned his stripes once more. The sophomore slapped a chopper up the middle, to drive in Simmons and Hamilton.

Cavanagh dealt a gem on the mound, not surrendering a run over seven innings of work. The Oneida, N.Y. native allowed just four hits and struck out three batters to earn his fourth win of the season (4-0).

Charles Arcuri pitched effectively in the eighth, before John-Michael Guarino entered the game in the ninth. The latter earned his first save of the year, retiring the side in order.

 
Oswego 4, Fredonia 2 (7 inn.)

During the back half of the doubleheader, the Lakers grinded out runs, answering Fredonia two separate times, before eventually claiming the lead.

In the bottom of the first after a Blue Devil crossed in the top half, Hamilton tallied an RBI with a base hit through the left side of the infield. Dellicarri notched another run scored, reaching base on a double to left earlier in the stanza.

During the third, again following a run scored by Fredonia, Dellicarri stepped to the plate following a leadoff walk to Kevin Hylas. The Congers, N.Y. native sat back and jacked a two-run homer off the end of the bat, sailing it over the right-field fence.

Oswego notched an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth when Eli Holton collected an infield single. Following a balk, Hylas ripped a base hit through the infield between third and short to drive in Holton.

Tim Cronin continued the Lakers strong pitching performances, slinging seven strong innings to earn the complete-game win (4-0). The senior starter allowed two earned on six hits and sat down five batters via the strike out.

Baseball returns to action for a the final game of the three-game league-play series – and the final game of its annual Spring Break trip – at 12:45 p.m. on Saturday at Lake Myrtle Park (Field #1).