CORTLAND, N.Y. – The No. 12/14 Oswego State baseball team defeated the No. 4/5 Cortland Red Dragons – 8-5 and 5-3 – in both ends of a doubleheader on Saturday afternoon. It is the first time since the 2014 season that the Lakers have taken a season series against the Red Dragons. Oswego moves to 23-7 overall and 12-2 in the conference, while Cortland falls to 28-7 and 13-4.
 
Game One: Oswego 8, Cortland 5

Trailing 4-2 heading into the fifth inning, the Lakers were able to stump Cortland's momentum and turn things around. After Alex Brown reached and Kyle Simmons singled to right field, Eric Hamilton ripped a home run over the left-center field fence. The ball, which sunk just beneath the scoreboard gave Oswego a 5-4 lead.

During the following at-bat, Mike Dellicarri went down and got the low ball, sending a towering home run well over the right-field fence for a solo shot. The ball ricocheted about three-quarters off of a tree about 20 feet past the outfield fence.

After Cortland pulled within one again at 6-5 in the following half-inning, Alex Brown sailed a two-run shot, which effectively put the contest away.

Along with Eli Holton's solo homer in the second inning, the Lakers hit four during the game. It was the first time Cortland allowed as many round trippers since a contest against Hamilton in 1998.

Mitchell Cavanagh moved to 7-0 on the year as he earned the win over six innings pitched. John-Michael Guarino came on in relief and did not allow a single base runner over three innings to collect his third save.

 
Game Two: Oswego 5, Cortland 3 (7 inn.)

The Lakers used a three-run top of the seventh inning to steal the win on the road and sweep the doubleheader against the Red Dragons. After a walk and wild pitch moved the game-tying run to second, Zach Whelan dropped down a perfect bunt to move Matthew Deblasio to just 90 feet away.

Robert Donnelly hit a bloop-single over the second basemen's head to score Deblasio. Hamilton followed that up with a single up the middle, which moved Donnelly to third. In the next at-bat, Barnes earned a walk, but ball four came on a wild pitch that allowed Donnelly to score and handed the Lakers a 4-3 lead.

Heads up base running by Hamilton and a steal of third base allowed him to score on the following play, which was a sacrifice fly to right off the bat of Dellicarri.

Despite strong pitching by Cortland, Holton was able to get Oswego on the board in the top of the sixth inning after Dellicarri smacked a ground-rule double to move Barnes to third. The latter reached base on an error by the shortstop.

During the following at-bat, which saw Zach Kollar enter as a pinch hitter, the Lakers sent a second run home. Kollar hit a come-backer, sending the pitch directly back up the middle to drive in Dellicarri.

Tim Cronin continued to deal, earning his eighth win of the season (8-0). He did not allow an earned run in the contest and surrendered just seven base knocks over six innings.

The Lakers will return to action for the final contest of the three-game set against Cortland at 12 p.m. on Sunday.