BOXSCORE
Senior Tom McCormick (Utica, NY/Utica Notre Dame) collected two hits and knocked in one run, but an early one-run lead did not stand for The College at Brockport Baseball Team against Cortland, as Brockport fell 7-1 Monday in the first of three games against the Red Dragons at Wallace Field in Cortland. The Golden Eagles and Red Dragons, ranked #20 in the latest D3Baseball.com national poll, are scheduled to play a doubleheader starting at Noon Tuesday in Cortland.
McCormick's RBI single in the top of the second completed an inning for the Golden Eagles (11-4 Overall/0-1 SUNYAC) that was started by Senior Zach Prentice (Auburn, NY/Auburn), who reached base and advanced to second due to a throwing error. Prentice was advanced to third via a groundout by junior Corey Booth (Middletown, NY/Minisink Valley) before scoring on McCormick's single.
The Golden Eagles, listed in the also receiving votes section of the latest national poll, were held quiet after the second inning. Cortland (9-5, 1-0) pitching shut down the Golden Eagles for the remainder of the game, limiting Brockport to just two additional hits, one from McCormick in the fourth, and the other from senior Max Zimmerman (East Amherst, NY/Williamsville North) to lead off the ninth inning.
Cortland scored three times in the third inning and extended the lead to 4-1 with a single ruin in the fourth inning. The Red Dragons capped the scoring with three more runs in the seventh inning.
“It was uncharacteristic of us to make that many mistakes, and good teams will capitalize on those mistakes,” said head coach Justin Beach. “Tomorrow is another day and hopefully we can win two tomorrow and take the series.”
Senior starting Pitcher Kyle Smith (Sanborn, NY/Niagara Wheatfield) pitched 6 1/3 innings, retiring six consecutive batters through the fifth, sixth and seventh innings. He allowed nine hits and six runs, three earned, walking two and striking out eight. The eight strikeouts Monday ties a season high for Smith, who struck out eight March 5th in an 11-1 win over Rowan.
Pitcher Steve Locke (Oxford, NY/Oxford) pitched 1 2/3 innings of relief, allowing one hit against nine batters faced, allowing one run, two walks, and striking out two.
Smith held the Red Dragons at bay until the bottom of the third inning, when Cortland (9-5 Overall/1-0 SUNYAC) used a three-run rally to take the lead.
Brockport had men on base to lead-off both the third and the fourth innings, but were unable to convert the opportunities into runs. Senior Max Keado (Troy, NY/Catholic Central) got to first to lead off the third inning with a wild pitch, then advanced to third after a Cortland error, but was unable to score in the inning.
Booth walked to start the fourth inning and advanced to second after sophomore Jake Coleman (Hilton, NY/Hilton) was hit by a pitch, but was caught stealing by the pitcher. After Zimmerman's lead off hit in the ninth, Cortland retired the next three batters to end the game.
