AUBURN - Mathematically, the loss didn't matter.

The Auburn softball team had already defeated Oswego, 4-0, earlier this season, which will be a plus when the Section III, Class AA playoff seedings are announced next week.

Since only the first meeting counted towards the league win column for the Maroons, the second game wasn't really going to matter, no matter the outcome.

But for Maroons pitcher Brittany Babcock, and outfielders Shannon McCormick and Lauren Fedyshyn, Auburn's 7-3 loss at Clifford Field Monday will stick.

The team's three seniors were honored under the lights before the last regular season home contest, but what has become almost an Auburn softball tradition, Senior Night was not a winning night.

“I know it's a big night and it's a wonderful way to honor our seniors,” Maroons coach Bob Lee said.

“But they tend to overthink it. They should be coming in with the same frame of mind that they come with every game. They need to come in on an even keel and they don't.” For the first time in over two seasons, Babcock didn't strike out a batter as the Bucs piled on 12 hits.

Oswego pitcher Lauren Corradina hurled at least a strikeout in every inning, totaling 11 overall.

Corradina had a no-hitter going until Fedyshyn and Babcock ripped back-to-back singles in the fifth inning.

By that time though, the Bucs had mounted a 4-0 lead.

Oswego leadoff batter Lexi Deming racked up three hits, including a triple, and three runs.

Emily Oleyouryk scattered two hits, including a seventh inning triple. Morgan Lavner also had two hits, with two RBIs. Also bringing in two runs was Amanda Ranolis.

The Maroons scored all three of their runs in the sixth, when Kelly Grinnell belted a one-out RBI single down the right field line and two batters later, Fedyshyn smashed a two-run triple.

The Bucs responded in the top of the seventh with five hits - including two doubles and a triple - and two more runs to seal the win.

“Oswego definitely hit the ball better this time around,” Lee said.

“They hit it alright the last time we played them, but we were able to make some nice plays then. We did a nice job in the sixth inning when we scored three and got our bats swinging. We also made a couple of adjustments in the box, which helped.”

It's the third time this season that the Maroons (11-9 overall) have allowed seven or more runs in a game.

It's also the third time that Auburn has played in unseasonably cold temperatures.

“We're not a cold weather team,” Lee said.

“Our three poorest outings were all in chilly conditions. The first game of the season here, against West Genesee, the first game in the morning in Myrtle Beach and now this one. I don't know if it's a coincidence or if its something we have to work out, but if we play in cold weather in sectionals, it can't be an excuse.”

Before sectional seedings come out next week, the Maroons will head to Central Square to face a tough Red Hawks team in a makeup game Wednesday.

That game will count towards their league record.

“We'll regroup,” Lee said. “We'll come back to practice (Tuesday) with new focus.”

Bucs 7

Maroons 3