The Oswego State softball team played its first contests in New York State for the 2017 season, suffering a pair of losses at Houghton College on Wednesday evening. Oswego goes to 4-8 on the year while the Highlanders improve to 6-10.
HOUGHTON 6, OSWEGO 1:
Houghton earned an RBI single in the first inning and led 1-0 until the sixth inning. With two outs, the Lakers rallied to tie the game, beginning with a Gabriella Vertuccio single to center field. In Oswego's next at-bat, Ashley Lyman mashed a double to left center to plate her teammate and knot the game at 1-1.
The even score would not last long, however, as the Highlanders answered with five runs in the bottom of the frame to arrive at the eventual final score of 6-1.
Korine Clark recorded the loss in the circle for the Lakers, throwing all six innings. She allowed six runs on nine hits while fanning seven Highlanders.
HOUGHTON 6, OSWEGO 5:
Oswego dropped a heartbreak in the nightcap, getting out to a hot start. Lyman continued a solid day at the dish with a two-run homer in the first inning. Two innings later, Vertuccio skied a sacrifice fly to center field, to allow Erin Sweeney to score from third, putting the Lakers ahead 3-0.
Houghton answered with two runs in the bottom of the third before adding three in the fifth and one in the sixth to lead the visitor's 6-3. Oswego would not succumb without a fight, as Lyman tallied another RBI double on her day, scoring Clark from third to cut the deficit to two. Joelle Nesci then drove in Vertuccio with a single but a runner was thrown out at the plate trying to square-up the score, ending the comeback bid.
Lyman and Nesci each finished 2-for-4 at the plate, with both of Lyman's going for extra-base knocks, three RBI and a run scored. Vertuccio and Melissa Mulvaney each had a hit for the Lakers, with Vertuccio's coming on a single early in the seventh to continue the two-out rally opportunity.
On the rubber, Jessica Roe was the pitcher of record in the loss, going 4.2 innings of four-hit ball with six strikeouts. Five runs were scored during that span but only two were earned. Clark threw the final 1.1, only surrendering two hits and an earned run.
Oswego will look to slide back into the win column at 3 p.m. on Saturday when it hosts Fredonia to open its SUNYAC slate.
