Oswego State baseball advances in SUNYAC Tournament after defeating New Paltz

     Every Laker in the lineup recorded a hit, as the Oswego State baseball team (24-13) ripped 16 hits in a 9-5 win over New Paltz (16-18) in the State University of New York Athletic Conference Baseball Tournament Friday, May 3.

     The Lakers face Cortland at 1 p.m., Saturday, in Cortland.

     Mike Stark (Sr., Rochester, N.Y.) set the tone right away for the Lakers drawing a leadoff walk, and later scored on a passed ball. Oswego State added another run before the frame was over when Andrew Lazzaro (Sr., Oswego, N.Y.) hit a chopper over the third baseman's head to plate Mike McMullen (Jr., Syracuse, N.Y.), who finished the game with three hits.

     McMullen, Tim Smith (Jr., Auburn, N.Y.) and Brian Hamilton (So., Liverpool, N.Y.) strung together consecutive singles to start a three-run third inning. Lazzaro registered his second RBI when Smith slid under the throw home. Hamilton capped off the scoring when he touched home plate due to a Michael Mascari (Sr., Syracuse, N.Y.) fielder's choice.

     Ed Charles (Sr., Auburn, N.Y.) started the sixth with a double into left field before McMullen threaded a single through the left side to give Oswego State a 6-0 lead.

     New Paltz mounted a rally in the bottom of the sixth inning after the Hawks loaded the bases after a hit batter and back-to-back walks. David Lostaglio delivered a two-RBI single followed by a Matt Prescia RBI single and an RBI single from Richard Guido to make the score 6-4.

     Lostaglio pulled New Paltz to within one run in the seventh when he ripped a double into right center field to score Anthony Repetto, who got on base with a two-out walk.

     The Lakers added insurance runs in the ninth when Charles hit his second double of the game to bring in pinch runner John Rauseo (So., Mattituck, N.Y.). Stark followed with a double of his own to push Charles across before he scored following a Scott Buniak (Jr., Clifton Park, N.Y.) single to put Oswego State ahead 9-5.

     Miles Kelly (Fr., Clifton Park, N.Y.) shut down the Hawks in order in the eighth and ninth innings to earn the save.

     Laker starter Dan Erne (Sr., Rochester, N.Y.) picked up the win after scattering seven hits for five earned runs over seven innings, while striking out three and walking three. New Paltz's Andrew Grann suffered the loss following a six-run, seven-inning performance over seven innings.
     Click for Box Score.