The Hamilton College Continentals split a non-conference doubleheader with the SUNY Oswego Lakers at Hamilton's Ferguson Field on Monday, winning the opener 4-2 and losing game two, 3-1.
Game one box score | Game two box score
The Continentals (9-19 overall) were playing on their home field for the first time in 2014. Hannah Staab ’17 hit a tie-breaking, two-run double in the bottom of the fifth inning to put Hamilton ahead to stay in game one.
The Continentals, who led 2-0 before the Lakers tied the score in the fourth, put their first two runners on in the fifth. Chelsea Merritt ’14 singled to center field, Becca Butler ’17 beat out an infield hit and both runners moved up on an Oswego throwing error. Staab followed with a shot to left field for her fifth double of the season.
Butler, who had two of Hamilton’s seven hits, put the Continentals ahead with a two-out, two-run single in the second. Sarah Moore ’16 and Kelly Leonard ’15 hit back-to-back singles with one out and Monique St. Jarre ’15 drew a walk to load the bases. After the Lakers cut down a runner at home for the second out, Butler hit a first-pitch single to right center to score two runs.
Leonard earned the win -- her fifth of the season -- with a complete-game effort. She struck out four batters and held the Lakers to one hit over the final three innings.
Oswego (9-16) scored twice in the fourth with Deanna Apps ’14 forcing home a run on a bases-loaded walk and Ashley Lyman ’17 bringing home the tying run with a sacrifice fly. Alexandra McKay ’15 singled to lead off the fourth and one out later Katie Bredin ’14 and Dana Taglioni ’17 beat out bunts to load the bases. Both McKay and Bredin had two of Oswego’s nine hits. The Lakers stranded 11 runners and left the bases loaded in each of the first two innings.
In game two Oswego erased Hamilton’s early 1-0 lead and held the Continentals to one hit in the last three innings. Sam Miller ’14, who had two hits in the nightcap, singled in a run in the first inning to put the hosts ahead. Miller’s hit scored Staab, who had led off the game with a single to left.
The Lakers responded with two runs in their next at-bat as they strung together three singles, a walk and a Hamilton error. Melissa Mulvany ’17 scored the tying run when Hamilton threw away a bunt single by Sammie Schroeter ’14. One batter later, Justine Abramowski ’15 singled in McKay to put the visitors ahead. Oswego added an insurance run in the fifth inning on an RBI single by Apps.
Hamilton was held to six hits, including two by Miller, with Katie Heselden ’17 earning the win by giving up just five hits over five innings. Alexandria Connelly ’16 collected her second save with two innings of one-hit, shutout relief.
The Continentals are scheduled to host Skidmore College on Wednesday, April 23, for a non-conference doubleheader. Oswego hosts SUNY Institute of Technology on Tuesday afternoon.
