HOUGHTON, NY—Six was the lucky number of the day.
The Houghton Highlanders stretched their win streak to six straight games with a pair of six-run offensive efforts, defeating the SUNY Oswego Lakers, 6-1 and 6-5.
Game One:
Kayle Jentsch pitched a complete game gem, allowing only two hits and one run while striking out three Laker batters.
The Highlanders opened the scoring in the first after
Bailey Shattell walked, stole both second and third base, then scored on a
Lauren Couturier single to left field.
The score remained 1-0 in favor of the Highlanders until the top of the sixth when the Lakers broke up Jentsch's no-hit and shutout bids with a two-out single and double to knot the score, 1-1.
Houghton responded emphatically in the bottom of the inning, scoring five runs on six hits. Jentsch helped her own cause, knocking in Couturier with the winning run on a single to left field.
Jentsch then retired the side in order in the top of the seventh to secure the win.
Seven Highlanders recorded a hit, including Couturier and
Alishia Foss, both of whom collected two hits apiece.
Game Two:
The Lakers jumped out to an early lead in the first when Ashley Lyman belted a two-run homerun to centerfield in the first inning.
Oswego tacked on another run in the third on a sacrifice fly to extend their lead to 3-0.
Houghton cut the lead to one in the bottom half of the inning when
Jenny Young laced a two-out, two-RBI single to left, scoring Shattell and
Barbara Richert.
The Highlanders then gained their first lead of the game in the fifth when Young struck again, this time tripling down the right field line to score Richert and Foss.
Taylor Sile then singled to centerfield to score Young and the Highlanders led, 5-3.
In the sixth Houghton struck again. After Foss reached on a fielder's choice, Richert roped a triple to centerfield to make the game 6-3.
The Lakers would not go quietly. After
Nicole Fata retired the first two batters in the seventh, a walk and a single brought Lyman to the plate. The senior promptly doubled down the left field line to score one.
With the tying run now at second base the Lakers sent in a pinch runner for Lyman. No sooner had the runner entered the game then Joelle Nesci singled to center field. One run scored and the tying run raced toward the plate, but
Jenny Young's throw was straight and run, cutting down the runner at the plate and securing the win for the Highlanders.
Tanya Hatton picked up her first win of the year, allowing only two hits and two earned runs over five innings of work.
Young finished the game 2-for-3 with four RBI. Richert was went 2-for-3 with two runs scored.
Next Time Out:
Houghton takes no time off, returning to action tomorrow when they open conference play against the Ithaca Bombers at home. Game one first pitch is scheduled for 5:00 p.m.
