CORTLAND — On another cold, cloudy day in day two of the 2016 SUNYAC Baseball Championships, Oswego State avoided elimination with a 3-2 victory over SUNY Fredonia thanks to some late-game luck and heroics. The Blue Devils are now out of the race for the conference crown as the loss is their second in the double-elimination tournament.
After falling behind 2-0 halfway through the second, Laker center fielder Wes Randall eased some nerves during the bottom half of the third with an RBI single to cut the lead in half. That would be the only hiccup for Fredonia’s starting pitcher Luke Kuczewski in what was a strong outing, going seven innings and only allowing one earned run on just four hits.
On the other side, Oswego State’s starter Robert Donnelly found his groove on the mound after giving up the two-spot early, as the sophomore also went seven strong, giving up two runs and striking out four.
“I think I started off slow,” Donnelly said. “My pitches started working for me once I got settled in. I felt pretty good after that.”
Despite the strong pitching, the Lakers had trouble finding such luck on offense, much like in Friday’s game against the College at Brockport. The Lakers were hitting the ball hard, but right at defenders for most of the game. Heading into the seventh, the lack of production on offense was creating an uneasiness in the air despite it being just a one-run deficit.
Then, the sun came out in the bottom of the seventh and the Lakers found some daylight offensively.
John Barnes started off the rally with a one-out double. He represented the tying run, but he would not find his way home conventionally.
With Barnes taking a big lead off second after the pitch, Fredonia catcher Patrick Sheehan tried to catch him napping and did. Just like that, all hope seemed to be lost as that tying run was now in a pickle between second and third. But with a little luck and speed, Barnes reached third safely on the throw. The tying run was then 90 feet away.
The good fortune would not stop there.
Mike Dellicarri then poked a slow roller down the first-base line, forcing Barnes to hold at third. With Dellicarri busting down the line, the first baseman for Fredonia mishandled it and Dellicarri reached safely. There were then runners at the corners and one out when Fredonia should have been out of the inning with its lead in tact.
Then, to the disbelief of everyone of the crowd, Kuczewski threw over to third for a pick-off attempt and Barnes was caught napping again. For the second time in the inning, he found himself in a pickle. Against all odds, with Barnes racing home, the throw came in from the third baseman and plunked Barnes right in the head. Barnes crossed the plate safely. The game was tied.
The heroics came the very next inning for Oswego State.
After Oswego State’s Andrew Marano put up a goose egg in Fredonia’s half of the eighth out of the pen, up came Eric Hamilton with a 2-2 score in the bottom half.
The Lakers’ single-season home run record holder turned on a fastball and launched a solo shot over the left-center field fence to give the Lakers the lead for good, and in turn saving their season.
“I went up there and knew my team needed me,” Hamilton said. “I saw a pitch I liked and tried to put a good swing on it… Rounding third was an unbelievable feeling.”
Oswego State will now look to take their good fortune and spirits into their second game of the day when they face the loser of Cortland/Brockport at 4 p.m. The Lakers will once again be facing elimination, but will also be a win away from Sunday’s championship game.
