Buffalo, NY - The Lakers look to bounce back against the Buffalo State Bengals after dropping their first two games of the season yesterday against Fredonia. After a slow start to the day offensively, Oswego's bats bounced back in game two, coming back from a 3-run deficit to take a 5-4 win to close out the weekend road trip.
 
GAME 1:
BASICS 
Oswego 2 (12-3, 6-3 SUNYAC)
Buffalo State 5 (17-8, 5-4 SUNYAC)
Softball Field | Buffalo, NY
 
HOW IT HAPPENED 
 
The Bengals started off the day hot with a 2 run home run from Mya Hurley in the bottom of the 1st inning, taking an early 2-0 lead. Buffalo State kept the pressure on in the second inning,  extending their lead with a single from Megan Galbraith, driving a run in and extending the lead to 3-0 early.
 
In the top of the 3rd inning, the Lakers battled back, closing the lead to 3-2 with a double from Delany Wiley, driving in runs from Kira Wright and Lillian Haggerty. The Lakers were held hitless for the remainder of the game, finishing with just 3 hits overall as Buffalo State's pitching settled in. 
 
Solid defense and Pitching from the Lakers would hold Buffalo State scoreless until the Bottom of the 6th, where the Bengals added 2 more runs, extending the lead to 5-2
 
Despite the offensive drought, Oswego's defense and pitching kept the game within reach. Pitcher Alyssa Budzinski delivered a solid performance at the mound, limiting further damage through the middle innings and keeping the Bengals off the scoreboard until the 6th inning.
 
WIN - Izzy Pezdek (8-4)
LOSS - Alyssa Budzinski (8-2)
 
GAME 2:
BASICS 
Oswego 5 (13-3, 7-3 SUNYAC)
Buffalo State 4 (17-9, 5-5 SUNYAC)
Softball Field | Buffalo, NY
 
HOW IT HAPPENED 
 
The Lakers took an early lead in game two, Ryan Perico lifted a sacrifice fly to bring home Kira Wright, giving the Lakers an early 1–0 lead.
 
Buffalo State answered immediately in the bottom half. Ashley Jedrich came around to score on a Laker error to tie the game, later in the inning, Izzy Pezdek delivered an RBI single to give the Bengals a 2–1 advantage. Oswego escaped further damage, with the Bengals leaving 3 runners on base. The Bengals extended their lead in the second inning. Grace Albano crossed the plate on a wild pitch, and Mya Hurley followed with an RBI double to push the score to 4–1. 
 
Oswego caught fire offensively in the 4th inning. Emma Grasso led off the frame with a solo home run to cut the lead to 4–2. After a pitching change by Buffalo State, the Lakers continued to capitalize with Kira Wright ripping a two run triple to even the score at 4–4.
In the bottom of the fourth, Alyssa Budzinski entered the game and delivered exactly what the Lakers needed, shutting down the Bengals' offense giving up no hits or runs in the next 3 innings. The Lakers took their first lead since the opening inning in the top of the 5th. Aggressive baserunning from Erika Finney paid off, as she capitalized on a passed ball to score and give Oswego a 5–4 edge.
Oswego was able to hang on to the lead and left with a 5-4 victory over the Bengals in game two, splitting the series at 1-1.
 
WIN - Alyssa Budzinski (9-2)
LOSS - Jean Rogers (7-5)

WHAT'S NEXT
Oswego returns home at 3pm on Wednesday, April 22nd, looking to pick up two more wins in a doubleheader against RIT.