Oswego, NY – The Lakers hosted SUNY Cortland for their final regular season series with their eyes on securing a playoff spot. The Lakers took time before the first game to honor their graduating seniors Ari Guinassi and
Emma Grasso.
BASICS
Oswego: 7 (18-7, 11-6 SUNYAC)
Cortland: 6 (21-15, 12-5 SUNYAC)
Laker Softball Field | Oswego, NY
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Lakers struck first and built an early cushion, plating two runs in the opening frame. After
Delaney Wiley reached,
Emma Budzinski delivered the first big swing of the day with an RBI triple, and
Kayla Doerre followed with a run-scoring double to make it 2-0.
Oswego added another in the second, as
Kira Wright came through with an RBI single to extend the lead to 3-0.
Cortland chipped away and eventually surged ahead with a five-run stretch across the fourth and fifth innings, turning a deficit into a 6-3 advantage.
In the bottom of the sixth, Oswego ignited the comeback. A leadoff walk to
Grace DiPalma set the tone before Wright and Wiley delivered back-to-back hits, the latter driving in a run to cut the deficit to two. Moments later, Budzinski stepped to the plate and delivered the knockout blow — a three-run home run to left that flipped the game and gave Oswego a 7-6 lead.
Budzinski finished with a monster performance at the plate, going 2-for-4 with a triple, a home run, and four RBIs. Wright added three hits and an RBI, while Wiley chipped in two hits, two runs scored, and an RBI as the Lakers totaled 12 hits on the afternoon.
In the circle,
Alyssa Budzinski went the distance, earning the win after working through seven innings and stranding multiple threats late to secure the victory.
This was the Lakers first win over Cortland since 2021.
GAME 2:
BASICS
Oswego: 7 (18-8, 11-7 SUNYAC)
Cortland: 12 (22-15, 13-5 SUNYAC)
Laker Softball Field | Oswego, NY
HOW IT HAPPENED
Oswego struck first in the opening inning, as
Kira Wright led off with a double before
Delaney Wiley brought her home with an RBI single to give the Lakers an early 1-0 edge. But the lead was short-lived, as Cortland responded with a four-run second inning and added three more in the third to take control at 7-1.
Despite the early deficit, the Lakers refused to go quietly. Oswego mounted its strongest push in the fourth inning, capitalizing on a defensive miscue before
Emma Budzinski delivered the biggest swing of the day—a two-run home run—to cut the deficit to 7-5.
Her second homerun of the afternoon.
The momentum, however, shifted back in Cortland's favor in the sixth inning. A combination of timely hitting and Oswego errors allowed the Red Dragons to plate four runs, extending the lead to 11-5 and putting the game out of reach. Cortland added one more in the seventh for insurance.
Oswego showed fight in its final at-bat.
Ryin Perico and
Tahlia Gerardi sparked the rally with back-to-back hits, and RBI efforts from
Gianna DeGonza and
Lillian Haggerty trimmed the deficit to five. Still, the comeback attempt fell short as Cortland closed out the win.
WHAT'S NEXT
Oswego has secured a spot in the post season for the first time since 2019. Their opponent is still to be determined.
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