A Quick Look
The SUNY Oneonta baseball team split their SUNYAC doubleheader against Nationally Ranked SUNY Oswego Thursday afternoon at Red Dragon Baseball Field. The Lakers pounded out 18 hits to take the first game 19-5 before the Red Dragons captured the nightcap 5-2 on a brilliant pitching performance from senior southpaw Michael Losak (Merrick/Sanford H. Calhoun).
 
The Inside Story
In game one, Oswego jumped out to an early lead with three runs in the top of the first. Oneonta Sophomore pitcher Sean Liquori (Thiells/North Rockland) helped his own cause in the bottom of the inning when he drove in a pair of runs with a single to center, scoring Liam Kaseta (Somers/Somers) and Sean McGlynn (New Hartford/New Hartford). The Lakers tacked on two more runs in the top of the second to take a 5-2 advantage. Ryan Enos drove in the first run with a double into right center, scoring Dylan Frawley. Kyle Lauria plated Enos with a single through the left side. The two teams exchanged runs in the third to make score 6-3. Oneonta scored when Sean Liquori (Thiells/North Rockland) drove in his third run of the game with a single up the middle to plate Sean McGlynn (New Hartford/New Hartford). Ryan Enos put the Lakers in front 8-3 in the top of the fourth when he belted a two-run home run over the left field fence. After keeping the Oswego bats quiet in the top of the fifth, Oneonta climbed within striking distance when they tallied two runs in the bottom of the inning. Sophomore Jake Barrett (Smithtown/St. Anthony's) got the inning started with a solo home run to left. With two out in the inning, Sean Liquori (Thiells/North Rockland) earned a walk. After a single by Matthew McAllister (Vestal/Vestal) put runners at the corners, Ronald Loomis uncorked a wild pitch, allowing Liquori to score from third. The Lakers put the game out of reach when they scored three more runs in the top of the sixth to take an 11-5 advantage.
 
In the nightcap, Oneonta got on the board in the bottom of the second on a sacrifice fly by freshman Cole Rockwell (Liverpool/Cicero-North Syracuse). The Red Dragons extended their lead to 3-0 in the bottom of the third on back-to-back homeruns by Jake Barrett (Smithtown/St. Anthony's) and Sean Liquori (Thiells/North Rockland). Oswego finally got on the board in the top of the fifth when they scored an unearned run on a Brendon Frank RBI single. Oneonta responded with two runs in the bottom half of the inning to take a 5-1 lead. After James Ceparano (Melville/Half Hollow Hills East) led off the inning with a single, Jake Barrett (Smithtown/St. Anthony's) moved him into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt. Sean Liquori (Thiells/North Rockland) followed a with a double into the left centerfield gap for his fifth RBI of the day. The Red Dragons would eventually load the bases with two out before the Oswego pitcher threw a wild pitch, allowing Liquori to score from third.  After Oswego was able to cut the deficit to 5-2 with a run in the top of the sixth, Michael Losak (Merrick/Sanford H. Calhoun) retired the heart of the Lakers lineup in order in the top of the seventh to hold on for the complete game victory.
 
Losak struck out seven Lakers while allow just five hits in his first complete game of his career. Losak is now 2-0 on the year with 2.30 ERA which is fourth best in the SUNYAC.
 
"What a response by our guys in the second game", said head coach Ben Grimm. "Once again, they showed a resilience that is unmatched in coming back and beating a quality team. It was a real effort, but Mike Losak really showed up and performed at such an unbelievable level. I am incredibly proud of this team."
What's Next
Oneonta will wrap up the regular season on Saturday, May 8^th when they travel to Brockport for a doubleheader beginning at 1:00 PM.