WINTER HAVEN, Fla. – The Oswego State baseball team pushed the No. 1 Beacons of UMass-Boston to the brink before falling 11-10 in a nine-inning contest.  Earlier in the afternoon, they dropped a 15-2 decision to Washington University of St. Louis.  With the pair of setbacks, the Lakers even their record at 4-4 overall.

In the evening contest, Oswego got off to a great start with five runs in the top of the opening frame.  Kevin Hylas and Ryan Enos both walked in their opening at-bats and advanced to second and third on a passed ball.  Mike Dellicarri delivered an RBI-single to put the Lakers up 2-0.  After Brandon Nicholson was hit by a pitch, Myles Kutscher hammered a three-run homerun to left center field to put Oswego in a commanding spot.

The Beacons would answer with runs in four of their first five frames to regain control of the contest and put the Lakers in an 11-5 deficit through six innings.

Oswego grabbed momentum with three runs in the seventh followed by a 1-2-3 bottom of the inning from sophomore relief pitcher Anthony Pacifico.  The Lakers continued to push with two more runs in the eighth and another spotless inning from Pacifico to close the lead to one heading into the ninth.  They had the tying run aboard when Luke Olsson walked with two outs in the ninth, but couldn't complete the comeback.

Earlier in the afternoon, Kutscher contributed both RBI's to give him five on the day and Dellcarri had a pair of hits while going 4-for-7 during the two games, but the Bears got 18 hits to cruise to the victory.

The baseball team has an off day tomorrow before returning to the field at 9:45 a.m. on Wednesday against Wheaton College (Mass.).  That game will be back at Lake Myrtle Park.