WINTER HAVEN, FLA. – The College at Brockport baseball team scored three runs in the fifth en route to beating Plattsburgh State 5-0 to complete the season sweep of the Cardinals and improve to 12-4 on the season. The third and conclusive game was shortened to 7 1/2 innings due to rain.
Brett Sanders led off the game with a hard hit single to center field and showed off his speed to steal second.
Greg Ruddy reached safely on a fielding error by the pitcher while Sanders advanced to second. With one out and Sanders 60 feet away,
Wesley Burghardt drove in Sanders with a groundout to second base.
It was three up and three down for Plattsburgh in the bottom of the frame as
Austin Spindler forced three straight fly outs. Spindler dominated the mound all game as a Cardinal base runner never made it past second base.
The Golden Eagles extended its lead to 2-0 in the third as
Dane Cala scored on a sacrifice fly from Ruddy. Plattsburgh got the first batter on base in the bottom half of the inning but
Chris Davis, Ruddy and Sanders connected for a picturesque double play to end the threat.
Cala led off the top of the fifth with a single to right field and would advance to second on a single from Sanders. A throwing error by the shortstop would allow both Sanders and Cala to score as Ruddy advanced to second. With one out and one runner in scoring position, Davis ripped a double to left field to drive in Brockport's fifth and final run.
Spindler pitched a complete game shutout for his fourth win of the season. The junior allowed a mere three hits and two walks while striking out three. Sanders, Davis and Cala each tabbed two hits on the day while Burghardt,
Paul Ludden and
Ryan Juergens had one hit each.
The Golden Eagles will return north for a tough week with five games, including three conference games. Brockport will travel to University of Rochester on March 22 to take on the Yellow Jackets at 4:30 p.m. The Golden Eagles' home opener will be March 23 at 4 p.m. as they host the St. John Fisher Cardinals at the Clark V. Whited Complex. SUNYAC opponent Oneonta will be in town this weekend for a three-game series with first pitch slated for 3 p.m. March 25 then a double header beginning at noon on March 26.
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