The College at Brockport Baseball team flexed its offensive might Sunday afternoon during a 16-7 State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) victory over New Paltz in its final conference game of the season before the SUNYAC Tournament begins this upcoming weekend. Luke Gilbert (Liverpool, NY/Liverpool) was a force to be reckoned with as he led the team with three hits and four runs while also contributing a stolen base and run batted in.

Brockport (18-14, 11-8 SUNYAC) dug itself an early hole and trailed New Paltz after two and a half innings by a score of 5-0 as senior pitcher Zack Lander (Rochester, NY/Churchville-Chili) had a rare rough start. The Golden Eagle offense rallied around their senior pitcher with 10 runs in the next two innings played.

Brockport batted through the lineup in the fourth inning, sending 13 total batters to the plate. Gilbert and Brett Sanders (Rochester, NY/Greece Olympia) walked before a one out single from Anthony Barbetto (New City, NY/Clarkstown) began the momentum going for the Green and Gold.

Designated hitter John Craig (Clifton Park, NY/Shenendehowa) drove a ball deep down the left field line that appeared to be on its way to a game-changing double but was ruled foul. Craig responded by hitting a liner to the gap that scored Sanders and let the runners advance bases after a failed attempt to nab the lead runner.

Chris Davis followed the RBI single, by hitting a low lying line drive that carried its way over the centerfielder's head and to the fence for a two run double, tying the game at 5-5. The Golden Eagles strung together five straight two out hits after a fly ball to the centerfielder. Jake Kenney (Hornell, NY/Alfred-Almond), Shawn Peake (Liverpool, NY/Liverpool) and Brendan Swayne (Seaford, NY/Plainedge) all singled before Gilbert and Sanders each doubled, capping off a game-changing nine run inning!

Lander settled in to hold the Hawks scoreless for two innings through the fifth before Nick Jerolimov (Massapequa, NY/Massapequa), Kyle Perez (Oswego, NY/Oswego), Adam Pratt (Batavia, NY/Batavia) and Josh Appel (Thornhill, ONT/Thornhill) came in to pitch a single inning each to close the game out.

The Golden Eagles added two more runs in the sixth inning, again scoring runs with two outs. Kenney walked to start the inning before two outs were made, followed by a Gilbert single and Greg Ruddy (Troy, NY/Troy) walk loaded the bases. Barbetto drilled the ball between the shortstop and third baseman, scoring both Kenney and Gilbert – putting Brockport ahead 12-5.

Brockport's offense wasn't finished as four more runs scored in the eighth inning. Peake led the inning off with an infield single and was pinch ran for by senior Kevin Harman (Penfield, NY/Penfield). Harman used all six feet-six inches of his frame as his giant strides easily got him to third base when the pitcher threw the ball away in a failed pickoff attempt.

Yesterday's senior day hero Eli Carrera (Rochester, NY/Franklin) sent a ball right back where it came from up the middle for an RBI single. Both Gilbert and Ruddy singled to load the bases. A passed ball allowed all the runners to advance one base prior to pinch hitter's Drew DeBlasiis (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy) had a RBI infield single. Senior Mark Cvitan (Westbury, NY/W.T. Clarke) pinch hit for Craig and fouled a couple of pitches off. He finally found a pitch and drove it to deep center field for a sacrifice fly and RBI for the final run of the game.

The Golden Eagles have two home games scheduled during the week versus Rochester on Tuesday at 4:30 pm and RIT Wednesday at 4 pm.

Brockport secured the No. 3 seed in the SUNYAC Tournament yesterday and are set to begin the playoff tournament in Cortland on Friday at 3:30 pm against the No. 2 seeded Lakers of Oswego. The tournament is a four-team double elimination showdown. Cortland clinched the No. 1 seed and will face the fourth seeded Blue Devils of Fredonia at noon on Friday. The tournament continues Saturday with games scheduled for 10 am, 1 pm and 4 pm.