Geneva, NY – The Lakers hit the road to take on the Hobart Statesmen as a mid week tune up before they look to take on the SUNYAC playoffs. A last second assignment, the Lakers and Statesmen were looking to find some hot bats as they both went through conference playoffs.
THE BASICS
Final Score:
Oswego 15 (20-12, 8-5 SUNYAC), Hobart 7 (17-17, ,8-9 Liberty)
Location: Mcdonough Park, Geneva NY
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Lakers came in on the day on a four game win streak and were looking to make it a solid 20 win season versus non-conference Hobart. A last moment addition to the schedule, this game looked to fine tune both teams before the playoffs
In the top of the first the Lakers were able to immediately grab the lead with some early contributions from Lakers Parliament and Winchester. Winchester led off the game with a hard hit ball up the middle, using the early bounce, Winchester was able to advance to second off a rattled Hobart starter through a wild pitch into the backstop. Parliament was able to take advantage of the early runner in scoring position with a monster home run over the right field fence. 2-0 Oswego.
Senior Nick Cody was on the bump for the Lakers today making his 11th appearance of the season. Cody faced some vengeful bats and saw some early resistance in the first inning. After an early walk and base hit, Hobart was able to push across a run. 2-1 Oswego. Cody was able to bounce back and get a key fly ball to limit the damage.
In the top of the second the Lakers were able to add to their lead. McCarthy got a lead off walk and advanced to second on another Hobart wild pitch. Followed by a Rosenberg groundout, McCarthy was able to advance to third, where Carullo would get a part of the action and get an RBI single for their third RBI of the season. 3-1 Lakers.
Cody was able to calm the Hobart bats in the bottom of the second with a 1, 2, 3 inning.
The Lakers offense would catch some more lightning in a bottle in the top of the third. With the lead, the Lakers would find Parliament was able to get aboard with a walk and they stole their way around the diamond. McCarthy would then have the chance to pad the Laker lead and they would smack a single up the middle for an RBI and a Laker 4-1 lead. The Lakers weren't done just yet, with McCarthy on base Levine came up to plate and was able to replicate what his teammate had done in the second inning. Levine hit a moonshot that the announcer is quoted in saying"Good thing no one is having a picnic in the parking lot." Lakers up a demanding 6-1.
Cody would face some more trouble in the bottom of the third. A leadoff double that would just get by Winchester at third able to work their way around the diamond and score off a ground ball out that would make the score 6-2 Lakers. Cody would retire the next three batters after the double to end the inning.
Following another pitching change from Hobart, Oswegos bats became patient and were able to work two walks. Then Hamer was able to work a walk themselves after an impressive 10 pitch about, With bases loaded and only one out, Parliament put the ball in play and was able to force an fielder's choice that allowed for another Laker run, and Parliaments 29th RBI of the season, 7-2 Oswego.
In the bottom of the fourth Cody's pitch for contact day finally caught up to them and Hobart was able to put together a rally. Followed by some early walks, Cody would have runners on with no outs, a fielder's choice would get one out but put a runner on third. A Hobart single would push another run across making the score 7-3. One batter later Hobart's Johnson would hit a single that would push another 2 runs across for Hobart making the score a much more competitive 7-5. With bases loaded, and two outs, Cody was able to get a much needed fly out to center field to end the fourth
The Lakers would open up a decisive lead in the top of the fifth. McCarthy singled to center field and would start off the inning with two steals that would put them in prime scoring position. A double from Rosenberg down the left field line would extend the Lakers lead to 8-5. Carullo would continue his good day at the plate with an RBI single that would make the score 9-5 Lakers. A Winchester walk would set up Hamer for an RBI opportunity in which he would capitalize on with his 18th double of the season. 10-5 Lakers. Parliament would continue his electric day at the plate and another two RBI single that would extend the lead to 7. 12-5 Lakers.
With the lead, the Lakers would opt to leave Cody in for the bottom of the fifth and they would face some immediate pressure allowing a run after getting one out. 12-6 Lakers. With the Statesmen pressuring again the Lakers made a change on the mound and put in relief Larry Citrola for his ninth appearance of the season. Citrola was immediately able to take control of McDonough field with two strikeouts to end the inning.
Oswego was able to add another insurance run in the top of the sixth behind the bats of Rosenberg and Carullo. Rosenberg was able to get aboard with a single and Carullo was able to keep their career day at the plate going with another RBI off a double down the left field line. Oswego leads 13-6
Citrola faced some trouble in the bottom of the sixth and was relieved by Mason Sands for their fourth appearance of the season. Sands would get the final out of the inning after allowing a runner on base to score off a ground ball to the shortstop. 13-7 Oswego
The seventh inning is the first time that the Lakers offense would be shut down all day. Having scored in the previous six innings. Sands would follow suit allowing no runs on no hits in the bottom of the inning
In the top of the eighth the offensive performance continued with a Rosenberg RBI that was able to score De Asa Delacruz to push the Lakers up 14-7. Rosenberg was able to get home after a throwing error for Hobart that made the score 15-7.
The bottom of the eighth, the Lakers faced a bases loaded situation with one out and were able to get a key double play to end the inning and not allow for a Hobart rally.
Oswego would go on to end the ninth inning without allowing a run, ending the day with a dominant 15-7 win over the Hobart Statesmen.
WHAT'S NEXT
The Lakers will take on the SUNY Fredonia tomorrow afternoon at home to finish the double header they started on Sunday.
Written by Daniel O'Neill
@OswegoAthletics | FB: OswegoAthleticsOfficial | IG: oswegoathletics
