Softball remains prominent in SUNYAC standings; sweeps Oswego over the weekend

Geneseo’s softball team swept Oswego over the weekend in a conference doubleheader. The team took both games against the Lakers on Friday, Apr. 21 with each game ending early as a result of the run rule. After the contests, Geneseo sat at 15-10-1 overall on the season and 6-4 in SUNYAC matchups with a winning streak of five straight games. 

In their first game against Oswego on Friday, the Knights got on the board first, scoring three runs in the bottom of the opening inning due to an RBI single off the bat of center-fielder Olivia Fazio before fellow senior right-fielder Sam Martz added her own run by stealing home. 

Geneseo added seven more runs in the third inning, beginning with an RBI double to right-center by sophomore designated player Kaitlyn Schmitz, who scored junior third-baseman Rebecca Schwartz. Next, a triple by freshman second-baseman Brooke Fraas scored Schmitz from second to put the Knights up by five. Martz singled to left field later in the inning to score Fraas before senior shortstop Leah VanDerwarker singled and advanced to second on an error that also allowed three runners to score. 

Geneseo recorded their final run of the inning (and game) as Schwartz hit a single through the left side to score VanDerwarker. Senior Elizabeth Eberhardt pitched a complete game and allowed three hits, no runs, and struck out three to extend her season record to 8-1. Geneseo took the 10-0 victory in five innings and headed into their second set of the doubleheader against the Lakers. 

In game two, the Knights got off to another hot start as Schmitz doubled to right center to score VanDerwarker in the bottom of the first inning. Fraas followed with a single up the middle to score Schwartz and Schmitz before junior catcher Lauren Gulick singled through the left side to score Fraas and put the Knights up 4-0 early. 

Oswego put three runs across in the top of the second, providing the Knights with their first real competition of the day as they trimmed their deficit to one. Geneseo answered promptly though, with Schmitz adding another double to score Schwartz before Fraas doubled through the right side to drive Schmitz home to put the Knights up 6-3. 

The third inning saw the Lakers add another run on a groundout to first base before the Knights put together a rally to plate three more runners in the bottom half. After tripling to get on base, Fazio stole home to add to the team’s lead. Later in the frame, a bases-loaded walk by Schmitz scored freshman left-fielder Gabriella Smith right before Fraas singled again, this time to score VanDerwarker from third to give Geneseo the five-run lead. 

The fourth inning provided the Knights with two more runs as Gulick doubled to left field to drive in Martz before Gulick herself scored on a wild pitch. The fifth and final inning of the game started with Oswego recording their fifth run of the contest to lessen their deficit once again, this time to six. 

Geneseo was able to end the game in the bottom of the inning with Martz reaching on an error by the shortstop and allowing Schwartz to score before Fazio singled to third base to drive Fraas home, giving the Knights the 13-5 win. Senior pitcher Mattie Woodard recorded the win in the second game, entering a relief spot in the top of the third and allowing one run on three hits while striking out one hitter.  

The doubleheader was the first of five straight home sets for the Knights as they will look towards matchups against the University of Rochester, Nazareth College, and Brockport in the coming week.