AUBURNDALE, Fla. – The College at Brockport Baseball team rallied to score two runs in the top of the ninth inning evening the score at 3-3 with UMass-Boston only to fall in heartbreaking fashion in the bottom half with a walk off two out single on Tuesday at Lake Myrtle Main Stadium.
Brockport (9-4 Overall) trailed for most of the game but thanks to Jason Hellwig's six innings of relief, the Green and Gold stayed within striking distance. The Golden Eagles trailed 3-1 heading into the ninth inning when Greg Ruddy got things started with an infield single.
Ruddy hit the ball towards the gap between the third baseman and shortstop. The Beacons third baseman ranged far to his left cutting the ball off, quickly attempting to throw the ball to first base sending the ball wide and not in time.
Brett Sanders went up to the plate with Ruddy on first and one out. He sent a hard hit ball down the right field line past the diving first baseman to plate Ruddy and cut the Beacons lead in half. Sanders settled on second for a double, putting the tying runner in scoring position.
Wesley Burghardt was the next batter. He drilled a ball a little to the left of second base through the whole and by the diving shortstop which scored Sanders tying the game at 3-all.
Brockport found themselves in trouble in the bottom half of the inning. Senior Seve Kowalski struck out a Beacons pinch hitter with runners on first and second base but two batters later Boston's leadoff man hit a ball sharply towards third base that skipped over the diving fielder's glove for the winning run.
Hellwig threw six innings, allowing one run on three hits with one walk. Brockport finished with seven hits, three coming from Sanders and two from Burghardt. Left handed hitters Ruddy and Dane Cala each finished the game with infield singles.
The Green and Gold varsity lineup next suits up against State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) opponent Plattsburgh on Friday in a doubleheader scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m. 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.
