BOXSCORE

Senior Tom McCormick (Utica, NY/Utica Notre Dame) got a pair of base hits, but The College at Brockport's baseball team dropped its 2011 season-opener to nationally-ranked Kean University 3-0 Friday afternoon at Jim Hynes Stadium in Union, N.J.

 

The Golden Eagles (0-1) allowed an unearned run in the first inning, left the bases loaded in the fifth and went down in order in the sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth innings in the loss to the second-ranked Kean Cougars (6-0).

"You have to find a way to scrap across some runs, and we just didn't do that today," said Justin Beach, Brockport's fourth-year head coach.

"We're talking about the No. 2 team in the country, and they had two of their top pitchers going. That's not an excuse, but it's early in the year. Pitchers are always ahead of hitters in the early part of the season, and you could see that today. At the end of the year, our offense will be there, it's about learning and getting better every day."
 

Sophomore starter James Bardenett (Syracuse, NY/Henninger) allowed only an unearned run through the first five innings. In the bottom of the first, Kean's Vinny Galya reached on a walk, advanced to second base on a passed ball, stole third and scored on a throwing error during the steal attempt.

 

Bardenett escaped a jam in the home half of the second. After hitting Nick Nolan with a pitch, Nolan advanced to second on a groundout, and got to third on the ensuing flyout. But Bardenett buckled down and stranded Nolan, inducing Stephen Nappe to fly out to center field.

 

Brockport's lone hit through the first three innings came when McCormick singled with one out in the second, but a double-play erased McCormick, and the score remained 1-0 until the home half of the sixth.

 

The Golden Eagles threatened to tie the score in the top of the fifth. After Kean starter Mike Russo was replaced to start the frame, McCormick picked up his second hit of the day, singling to left field. Senior Mike Potenza (Endwell, NY/Maine-Endwell) followed with a single to left, giving the Golden Eagles runners on first and second with nobody out. Sophomore Jake Coleman (Hilton, NY/Hilton) flew out to left for the first out, and junior Mike DeGregory (Saratoga Springs, NY/Schuylerville) struck out, but senior Max Keado (Troy, NY/Troy Catholic) reached on a throwing error to load the bases for sophomore Mike Weakley (Liverpool, NY/Liverpool). Weakley hit into a fielder's choice that ended the threat.

 

Brockport went down in order in the sixth inning, and Bardenett surrendered two more runs in the bottom of the inning. After getting the leadoff man to fly out, Kean got a single and pushed its lead to 3-0 when Ken Gregory belted a two-run home run over the right field fence. Bardenett allowed three runs — two earned — on five hits over his 5 1/3 innings pitched.

 

With a runner at third base and one out, freshman Justin McCarthy (Mohegan Lake, NY/Lakeland) relieved Bardenett and induced the Kean batter into a fielder's choice to first baseman Max Zimmerman (East Amherst, NY/Williamsville North). Zimmerman went home on the play, and his throw to catcher Mike Goldstein (Slingerlands, NY/Guilderland) was in time to get the runner out at the plate.

 

The Golden Eagles were retired in order in the seventh, eighth and ninth innings.

 

McCarthy, junior James Williamson (Mexico, NY/Mexico) and Coleman combined to throw 2 2/3 innings of scoreless relief.

 

Keado saw his 18-game hitting streak, the second-longest in school history, get snapped after the senior went 0-for-3 with three groundouts. He reached on an error during the fifth.

 

Brockport returns to action at 11 a.m. Saturday morning against Rowan University.