Oswego softball team optimisic about season after home opener

OSWEGO N.Y. – The Oswego State softball team hit the field Thursday for a double-header home opener against the Rochester Tigers, splitting the games.

The Lakers are hoping to build off the success of last season while continuing to grow as a team. Last season was the first for many players due to the pandemic, and it was also Gabrielle Rivers’ first year as head coach. With the groundwork laid out last season, the team is pushing themselves to improve this year. 

“I feel like everyone had a lot of learning to do last year,” said pitcher Fiona Higgins. “This year we’re already stronger than last season; I think this year is definitely going to be a lot better.” 

The softball team is in the spotlight after Higgins threw a no-hitter against Defiance College last week. Higgins, a junior who also plays first base, recently hit the 100-strikeout mark as well. She says that these achievements wouldn’t be possible without her the other players on the team. 

“I couldn’t have done that no-hitter without my teammates,” Higgins said. “They played amazing defense and I’m very lucky to have them.”

Higgin’s no-hitter against Defiance college earned her the Oswego Athlete of the Week award, but she’s not just a threat on the mound. At-bat Thursday against the Tigers Higgins hit an RBI allowing teammate Zoe Mennig to score, putting the Lakers ahead for the first time in the game. They would go on to lose 4-2.

Despite the split on Thursday, Higgins is optimistic about the season and what the team can accomplish.

“I think we can do really well this season, I feel like we’re trying to figure out putting it all together still,” Higgins said.

Higgins said the Lakers treat every game as an opportunity to grow – for players and coach Rivers. Even though it is early in the season she said that the team can go far this year. 

“We can only go up from here, and I think we’re getting better each and every day and I think we can go far this season, I really do,” Higgins said.       

The Lakers will take on St. John Fisher College Saturday, March 26th in another double-header. The games are scheduled at 12:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. at the Laker softball field in Oswego.