LEESBURG, Fla. – Junior Fiona Higgins set a new personal-best with 14 strikeouts in a single game, but the Oswego State Softball team fell in extra innings against Utica University, and then 7-3 against Loras College in the mid-afternoon contest.

THE BASICS

• Final Scores:  Utica 4, Oswego 1 (10 innings)  ||  Loras 7, Oswego 3
• Location:  Sleepy Hollow Fields, Leesburg, Fla.
• Records:  Loras 6-0, Utica 1-2, Oswego 0-5

HOW IT HAPPENED
Game 1 – Utica

• Oswego had a great chance to take the early lead when junior Chelsea Sellars walked to start the third inning.
• Freshman Maria Lutz came in to pinch run, advanced by a sacrifice from centerfielder Samantha Morgan, and took third on a passed ball.
• Utica pitcher Kylie Murray rallied with a strikeout and fly out to stymie the chance.
• The Lakers got a runner into scoring position in the bottom of the sixth on a pair of Pioneer errors, but Murray induced a groundout to escape again.
• Through seven innings, Higgins only allowed one hit for Utica.
• In the first extra-inning frame, Utica sacrificed the runner who started on second over and used a walk and a steal for two in scoring position.
• It was Higgins' turn to rally this time with a pair of huge strikeouts.
• In the top of the tenth, the Pioneers finally strung together multiple hits to put up the winning runs.
• Freshman Mattison Phinney was able to score for Oswego in the bottom half during a double play, but Utica held on from there.

Game 2 – Loras

• Senior Aleah Yaizzo singled and stole second to lead off the contest but the Lakers were unable to bring her around.
• Loras used a single, double and a Laker error to grab the quick 3-0 after the first inning.
• Oswego answered back in the top of the second when Sellars was hit by a pitch and Taylor DuBois and Brianna LoMonaco singled to load the bases.
• Sophomore Ellie Mahoney drew a one-out walk to bring in the first run and Yaizzo hit a sacrifice fly for the second.
• LoMonaco was able to swipe third and come in on an error by the Duhawks to tie the game at 3-3.
• A pair of errors in the bottom of the inning scored a run for Loras to go up 4-3.
• The Lakers put runners on second and third in the top of the third, but Loras got a key strikeout to keep the lead.
• Oswego tried to mount another comeback in the fourth when they put two aboard with walks.
• Loras brought in their star pitcher, fresh off a seven-inning, 20-strikeout game earlier in the morning, to successfully end the chance.
• Junior Madison Hoeflich kept Oswego close with 4.1 innings of relief and six strikeouts.
• The Duhawks added a run in the fourth and two insurance runs in the sixth to ice the game.
• Yaizzo and LoMonaco each reached base twice to lead the Laker offense.

WHAT'S NEXT
Oswego returns to Legends Way fields in Clermont tomorrow for a 1:30 p.m. contest against Defiance and a 4 p.m. game against Washington College (Md.).