FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – The College at Brockport Baseball team exploded offensively after migrating down south for a series of games in North Carolina, posting double-digit runs in two victories against Pittsburgh-Greensburg Saturday evening by scores of 15-12 and 11-1 in JP Riddle Stadium.
Brockport (4-0) totaled 23 hits altogether in the double header while scoring 26 runs, capitalized on walks and errors from the opposition to put together big innings. The opening game of the day Brockport scored nine runs in the top of the first inning of play.
Brockport 15 – Pittsburgh Greensburg 12
Brett Sanders worked a walk in his first plate appearance, stole second base and then scored on a one out single from Wesley Burghardt before advancing to second on the throw home. Chris Davis mirrored the play with a single that plated Burghardt while he advanced to second on the throw home.
Davis found himself on third base after Ryan Juergens walked to put runners on the corners. Josh Martin knocked in a run on a fielder's choice, beating out a possible inning ending double play ball hit to the shortstop. Martin stole second before Joe Bender earned a base on balls.
Next up Luke Gilbert put the pressure on the defense as he raced down the base path on a slow roller to the second baseman. The second baseman's throw was off the mark which allowed Martin to score, putting Brockport up 4-0. Batting ninth was Dane Cala, he plated both runners with a double. Back-to-back walks by Sanders and two hitter Paul Ludden chased the Bobcats starter as the bases were loaded.
Burghardt came up big with a bases clearing double which put the Golden Eagles up a whopping nine runs after the initial inning of play.
Brockport starter Austin Spindler surrendered his first run of the year during the first inning but settled into a groove pitching four consecutive scoreless innings after the first en route to his second win of the season.
The Golden Eagles seemed to be well on their way to victory, especially after a three run home run from Ludden in the fifth inning put them up 12-1. However the Bobcats scored 11 runs in the sixth inning, closing the Green and Gold lead to 14-12.
Seve Kowalski entered the game with a single out in the sixth and worked through his eight batters faced to earn his second save of the young season.
Ludden, Burghardt and Cala finished the game with multiple hits and runs batted in while Davis led the team with three hits.
Brockport 11 – Pittsburgh Greensburg 1
Tyler Clifford got the call in game two and gave up a first inning run like Spindler in game one rallying to put together four consecutive scoreless frames after the Golden Eagles trailed 1-0.
The Green and Gold failed to score in only the first inning of game two as it took the lead it would not recede in the second inning on a two out hit by Greg Ruddy. Ruddy knocked in Martin who doubled and Ludden who singled and stole second base to give Brockport a 2-1 lead.
Davis added two more runs to Brockport's lead in the third on a single up the middle which plated Sanders and Burghardt. The Golden Eagles scored another run in the third after Martin doubled to the gap and Ludden's second hit of the game put Brockport ahead 5-1.
Ludden's bat stayed hot in the fifth with another single in a three run Golden Eagle inning. Gilbert and Ruddy both drew walks to load the bases and Sanders sent all three base runners around the base paths with a two out bases clearing double.
In his final plate appearance of the game with a perfect 3-for-3 game on the line Ludden hit a sacrifice fly that scored Dave Battel and put Brockport ahead 11-1.
Clifford's five innings and one run were relieved by Derick Fera in the sixth inning. Fera worked two scoreless innings while striking out four batters.
Sanders, Davis, Ludden and Ruddy all had multiple runs batted in with Ludden stealing the show with a perfect 3-for-3 performance.
Brockport has one game remaining in Fayetteville, N.C. on Sunday at 9 a.m. against Farmingdale. Be sure to stay up to date on all your Golden Eagle scores and awards by following @BportAthletics on Twitter and by liking the "Brockport Golden Eagles" Facebook page.
