In the first game of the New York Regional, the Oswego State baseball team fell 7-5 to Amherst College in a game that went 11 innings Wednesday morning at Falcon Park. The Lakers made a two-run comeback in the ninth frame, but fell short in the second of the extra innings.
Amherst broke open the scoring early, knocking in one in the first. Laker starting pitcher, Brendyn Karinchakwas able to close out the side though, forcing the Lord Jeffs to leave two on base.
Oswego would put up its first mark in the third as Dan Saccocio crossed the plate for the Lakers. After Kyle Liner flied out, Saccocio was able to get on base with a single to center. The Scotia, N.Y. native then stole second as Brian Hamilton got to first with a base on balls. Eric Hamilton then singled to center, sending the speedy Saccocio home. Amherst would hold Oswego to one, but the Lakers picked up another in the following frame as Jordan Giller scored off a Kyle Simmons groundout.
In the fifth inning, both sides were able to tack on another run, making it a 3-2 game going into the sixth. It was here that the Lord Jeffs tacked on two more giving them their second lead of the day.
Scoring didn't resume until the ninth, when Amherst notched two more in the top of the inning, leaving Oswego in a two-run hole with its final batters stepping to the plate. E. Hamilton would lead off the side, hitting his third single of the day. He would then advance to second as Myles Kutscher was walked the following at-bat. After Kutscher was caught stealing on a miscommunication between the runners, Giller bombed one to left center, doubling up and scoring E. Hamilton. Down by only one with one out, John Rauseo blooped one into center, advancing Giller to third. Wes Randall would then drive him in, hitting a sacrifice fly on the following hit. Amherst would close out the inning, but not before Oswego tied it at five, causing extra innings.
Pat Brown, who took the mound in the ninth for Oswego, went three-up-three-down in the tenth, giving the Lakers the chance to win it in the bottom. Alex Brown led off, getting to second after the catcher overthrew the first basemen on a dropped third strike. With no outs, Saccocio attempted to move A. Brown to third on a bunt but the catcher was thrown out at third. Saccocio, who made it to first on the fielder's choice, stole second and then advanced to third on a Brian Hamilton groundout. With two gone and the winning run on third, designated hitter Myles Kutscher stepped to the plate. Kutscher sent a high-flying ball to center but it was easily handled and both teams would head into the 11th.
The Lord Jeffs would take advantage of its new life, scoring two runs in the top of the frame. Oswego would be able to put two in scoring position, but were unable to bring them home, falling to Amherst 7-5 in 11 innings.
E. Hamilton, Rauseo and Saccocio would all finish the game going 3-for-5 at the plate. Giller and Saccocio ended with two runs scored. Five different Lakers would finish an RBI.
With the Regional being a double-elimination tournament, Oswego State will play again at 10 a.m. on Thursday against the loser of a contest between No. 1 Cortland and No. 8 Oberlin College.
