Late offensive surge helps Oswego State baseball defeat Hope, 9-4

     The Oswego State baseball team (7-3) used a strong offensive attack in the late innings to pull away and secure a 9-4 win over Hope (2-3).

     Oswego State improved to 5-2 overall on the team's spring break road trip. The Lakers were led by Tim Smith (Jr., Auburn, N.Y.), who finished the game with three hits, two RBI, and a run scored.
     Hope got on the scoreboard first, scoring a run in the bottom half of the first inning. Oswego State answered back in the third on an RBI double by Tyler Baker (Jr., Hannibal, N.Y.) bringing around Ed Charles (Sr., Auburn, N.Y.). Baker scored later in the inning on a sacrifice fly to left field, hit by Smith. The Dutchmen pulled even in the bottom half of the third, plating a run off of Oswego State starter Jordan Giller (Fr., Toronto, Ontario).
     The Lakers added a run in the sixth after Dan Karleski (Jr., Syracuse, N.Y.) singled to the opposite field plating Brian Hamilton (So., Liverpool, N.Y.) to take the one-run lead. Hope would respond with a run in the bottom half of the sixth to even the score at 3-3.
     Oswego State's bats woke up in the seventh, loading the bases and scoring three runs in the inning. Smith singled up the middle with the bases full bringing home Mike McMullen (Jr., Syracuse, N.Y.). Two sacrifice flies plated two additional Oswego State runners, creating a 6-3 Laker advantage heading into the seventh-inning stretch.
     The Dutchmen inched back with a run in the eighth, but Oswego State came back with a stellar ninth inning scoring three more runs. Michael Mascari (Jr., Syracuse, N.Y.) brought home Smith on a single up the middle. A few batters later, Forrester Wight (Jr., Watertown, N.Y.) delivered a pinch-hit double, scoring Mascari and Tom Curry (Jr., Pulaski, N.Y.), giving the Lakers a five-run cushion heading into the bottom of the ninth.
     On the mound, Giller pitched a solid five innings, giving up just two runs on six hits in the no-decision. Cody LaFlamme (Fr., Eagle Bridge, N.Y.) earned his first career collegiate victory, striking out two batters and allowing one run in two innings of relief. Ryan Donovan (Jr., Utica, N.Y.) picked up the save in his first game action of the season, going 1.2 innings without surrendering a run or hit.
     The Lakers pick up action on Friday, March 22, when they battle Brockport in a doubleheader in the first SUNYAC games of the season. First pitch is scheduled at noon.

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