BOXSCORE

Senior Kyle Smith (Sanborn, NY/Niagara Wheatfield) allowed only two runs over eight stellar innings during The College at Brockport's first game of the New York Regional of the NCAA Division III baseball tournament, but the Golden Eagles fell to Eastern Connecticut State University 2-0 Wednesday morning at Falcon Park in Auburn, NY.

 

With the loss in the first game of the double-elimination regional, Brockport must defeat Mitchell College (23-10-1) at 10 a.m. Thursday morning to stay alive in regional play.

 

Smith (8-2), who was going for his school record-tying ninth win of the 2011 season, surrendered only four hits while striking out six and issuing only one walk during his eight innings pitched for Brockport (27-13). The game was scoreless until Eastern Connecticut State (33-11) broke through for a two-run, two-out single in the top of the eighth.

 

The Golden Eagles got a runner to third base with two outs in the eighth, but the threat was ended on a strikeout. Brockport was retired in order in the ninth to end the game.

 

This was a pitchers' duel from the start. Smith, a second-team All-State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) right-hander, was dialed-in early on. He allowed only a one-out single in the first inning before retiring the next 19 batters.

 

Eastern Connecticut nearly had a solo home run with two outs in the top of the fourth inning, but the ball sailed foul, and Smith settled down and got a looking strikeout to end the frame.

 

Smith struck out five of seven batters at one point over the fourth, fifth and sixth innings as the Golden Eagles and Warriors kept putting zeroes up on the scoreboard at Falcon Park.

 

“(Catcher) Mike Goldstein called a good game today and I went out there and just attacked their hitters,” said Smith, who pushed his school record for strikeouts in a single-season to 79 in 83 innings pitched.

 

“I felt like I did a good job of locating my pitches, but unfortunately they just got those big hits. We just couldn't do it offensively, and it happens sometimes.”

 

Eastern Connecticut's Jim Schult was equally impressive, holding Brockport's potent offense hitless until senior Max Keado's (Troy, NY/Catholic Central) two-out single in the bottom of the fifth inning.

 

Brockport stranded 10 runners for the game, leaving a runner at third in the first, third, seventh and eighth innings.

 

Senior Max Zimmerman (East Amherst, NY/Williamsville North) went 2-for-4 while Keado, Goldstein and junior Mike DeGregory (Saratoga Springs, NY/Schuylerville) each had a base hit for Brockport. Keado also drew two walks for the Golden Eagles, who fall to 0-2 in the all-time series with Eastern Connecticut.