The Lakers are on a hot streak as of late winning four of their last five games over a seven-day span. They first took on the Oneonta Red Dragons on a weekend trip which saw them head all the way out for a three-game series. 

The first one began on March 29. The Lakers had control early in the contest, scoring 11 runs and not allowing any through five innings, giving them a healthy lead of 11-0 through five. This did not phase the Red Dragons as they belted out nine runs in the next two innings and only allowed the Lakers to score one, making the score a much closer score of 12-9. After that, the scoring subsided and the Lakers managed to score another run and only allowed one more, making the final score of the game 13-10. Notable performers in this game were catcher Anthony Barone, who went three for three with two RBIs and three runs scored, as well second baseman Trey McGowan who went three for five with an RBI and two runs scored. 

The next day the Lakers played a doubleheader against the Red Dragons in two competitive matchups. The first game saw the Red Dragons come out strong as they scored seven unanswered runs through five innings, forcing the Lakers to play catch-up. Catch up they did, as they came out swinging in the sixth inning, scoring five runs and narrowing the lead margin to just one. However, that was about all they could manage, as they would only score one more run throughout the rest of the game while the Red Dragons tacked on two more, making the final score 9-6. The notable performer in this game was Blake VanDreason who went two for four including a double and a homerun, driving in two RBIs and scoring a run himself. 

The next game would be the rubber match in the three game series, and a competitive game it was. The Lakers broke the score seal first by driving in two in the third and one in the sixth, while the Red Dragons scored two runs through six making it 3-2. The Lakers finally took over in the eighth, going all-out and scoring five runs in one inning. Oneonta tried to battle back scoring one in the eight and rallying and scoring three in the ninth, but it wasn’t enough making the final score 8-6. The notable performers in this game were Jonan Shears, who pitched six full innings, recording eight strikeouts and only giving up one run, as well as Jelani Hamer, who went two for four with a homerun driving in four RBIs and scoring a run as well.

The Lakers then traveled back home to Oswego to take on the Alfred State Pioneers in a doubleheader of two seven-inning games on April 2. 

The Lakers started out the first game slow as they went into a hole, down 3-0 going into the bottom of the third, but they came out strong blasting four runs straight, putting them in the lead after three. Alfred tied the game up in the fifth inning, but in the seventh and final inning, right fielder Tishawn Featherstone stepped up to the plate with Owen Parliament in scoring position and blasted a single, sealing the walk off and giving the Lakers the win. The notable performer in this game was Parliament who went two for three, with a homerun, two RBIs and two runs scored. 

In the second game, the Lakers stepped on the gas and did not take their foot off. They scored nine runs through four innings, capped off with six runs in the fourth inning. This put the Lakers ahead 9-1; they did not stop as they scored a run in the fifth and sixth as well. The Lakers did this while not allowing the Pioneers to get any more offense going and the game ended with a final score of 11-1. Notable performers in this game were Oswego’s four pitchers: Jai Sharma, Aiden Kerr, Richie Paul and Mason Sands, who collectively pitched seven innings, only giving up one earned run and recording seven strikeouts.

Following the five-game stretch, the Lakers are 9-8 and now sit third in the SUNYAC with a 2-1 conference record. The Lakers next travel up to Plattsburgh where they will face another conference foe in a three-game series over the weekend: one on Friday and two on Saturday. After that, they travel back to Oswego to take on St. John Fisher in a doubleheader on Tuesday. 

Photo by: Oswego Athletics