OSWEGO, N.Y. – The Oswego State softball team split a pair of conference contests against Plattsburgh on Monday afternoon at the Laker Softball Field.  The team dropped the opener, 4-2, before rebounding with a 7-4 victory in the second game.  The Lakers go to 9-7 (2-2 SUNYAC) while Plattsburgh sits at 10-11 (4-2). 

Game 1
The Lakers struck first in the bottom of the second when senior Gabriella Vertuccio walked with one out and advanced on a groundout by Claire Hewitt.  After a Jessica McCarthy walk, freshman Taylor DuBois singled down the left field line and Vertuccio came home to score when the Cardinals' outfielder misplayed the ball.

Both teams scattered hits in each subsequent inning until the top of the sixth.  Plattsburgh managed seven singles in the inning to plate four runs and take control of the game late.

Oswego brought the tying run to the plate in the bottom of the seventh when pinch-hitter Carly Lawless and Erin Sweeney reached with singles to put runners at the corners with one out.  A wild pitch allowed the second Oswego run to score, but a groundout and strikeout ended the comeback.

Sweeney led the Lakers with two hits while both Vertuccio and McCarthy each reached base twice in the contest.  Sophomore Rebecca Vilchez (6-4) takes the loss while pitching her team-leading fourth complete game of the season and striking out three batters.

Game 2
In the second game, Oswego came out swinging right away in the first.  After Sweeney reached on a hit-by-pitch and advanced to second on a wild pitch, Vilchez doubled to left center to bring her home and put Oswego up.  Angela Frampton singled in the next at-bat to plate Vilchez and doubles by Jessica Roe and Vertuccio added two more runs to give Oswego a 4-0 lead after the first inning.

Plattsburgh got on the board in the top of the fourth with three hits and a run, but the Lakers pushed the lead out to 6-1 in the bottom of the fifth when Sarah McCullough singled and stole second with two outs.  She came home in the next at-bat when Vilchez reached on an error.  A Frampton walk and a double-steal moved both runners into scoring position for Roe, who singled to bring in the second run of the inning.

Vilchez (7-4) pitched five strong innings in the second game, only giving up the one run on six hits while striking out two batters.  Frampton took over in the sixth and ended up striking out the side, but not before Plattsburgh was able to cut the lead to 6-4 with a pair of hits and walks.

Two-out errors by the Cardinals in the bottom of the sixth allowed Madelana Wrubel and Sweeney to occupy the corners.  Wrubel came home on a double steal to put Oswego back up 7-4 with an inning to play.  Frampton retired Plattsburgh in order in the top of the seventh to preserve the win.

The softball team is back in action on Wednesday at 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. when they host Potsdam in a conference doubleheader at the Laker Softball Field.