The Oswego State softball team opened its 2017 campaign with a split at PFX Athletics Spring Game on Sunday morning and afternoon. Oswego began with a 5-0 shutout of New England College before falling 9-6 to the University of Scranton.
OSWEGO 5, NEW ENGLAND 0:
Oswego earned single runs in the first and fourth innings before putting the game away with a three-run seventh frame. Joelle Nesci drove in the first Laker run of the year with a single that scored Erin Sweeney in the top of the first. In the fourth, with the bases full, a passed ball scored Ashley Lyman from third. Holding a 2-0 edge in the final inning, Rebecca Vilchez doubled for two RBI, driving in Sweeney and Katie Heselden. Later in the inning, pinch-runner Kim Dunst sacrificed herself between first and second to allow Vilchez to score for the contest's final run.
VIlchez had an even more profound impact on the mound than in the batter's box, throwing a complete-game, two-hit shutout in her first collegiate start. Over the course of her seven innings of work, Vilchez fanned nine Pilgrims, forced seven into ground outs and four others into fly outs.
On offense, Sweeney led the way with a perfect 2-for-2 from the dish, including two runs scored and two walks. Also with hits were Nesci, Vilchez, Heselden and Gabriella Vertuccio. Sweeney, Heselden and Holly Romeo each swiped a bag on the base paths.
SCRANTON 9, OSWEGO 6:
Knotted at 6-6 heading into the final inning, Scranton was able to capitalize with a three-run homer to hand the Lakers a tough loss. This followed a valiant comeback from Oswego, erasing a four-run deficit in the sixth with four RBI singles from Lyman, Heselden, Sweeney and Allison Hallett.
Vertuccio, Sweeney and Vilchez paced Oswego at the plate with two hits and an RBI apiece. One of Vilchez's one hits was the Lakers' lone extra-base knock, coming by way of a triple. Heselden, Lyman, Nesci, Hallett and Melissa Mulvaney each added a hit.
On the bump, freshman Jessica Roe threw a complete-game, scattering nine hits to go along with two strikeouts.
The Lakers return to the diamond at 8 a.m. on Monday when they continue in Florida against Western New England University. At 1 p.m., Oswego will face Keene State to conclude the second day of its spring break trip.
