ROCHESTER, N.Y. – The College at Brockport Baseball team fell in a close game to the University of Rochester Tuesday evening, falling 3-2 at Towers Field during a cold and cloudy day.
Brockport (12-5 Overall) returned to a frigid New York after more than a week in Florida playing in incredible weather. The Golden Eagle offense was unable to shake the chilly conditions, mustering five hits throughout the nine inning contest.
However the Golden Eagles were first to strike in the contest during the third inning. After two outs to start the inning Dane Cala reached first base when he was struck by an errant pitch. Brett Sanders kept swinging a hot bat and singled up the middle before Greg Ruddy walked off of four straight balls. Wesley Burghardt worked a full count before watching ball four to earn a bases loaded run scoring walk.
Brockport led 1-0 unitl the Yellow Jackets broke through in the bottom of the fifth inning. Starting pitcher Derick Fera kept Rochester at bay for four innings of work but the Yellow Jackets were able to score two runs off of him in the fifth inning. Despite giving up four hits and walking one batter in the fifth, Fera kept his composure getting the final batter to line out to the leftfielder for the final out of the inning leaving three Yellow Jackets on base.
Brockport scored in the top of the sixth inning to even the score. Josh Martin scored after earning a base on balls and stealing second before Jack Wallwork cashed him in with a single to centerfield. Jimmy Lovelass replaced Fera in the bottom half of the inning and was unable to work around a leadoff walk. Rochester took the 3-2 lead that would remain true.
Lovelass worked a scoreless seventh inning before Casey Piazza kept Brockport within a single run with his own scoreless eighth inning.
Ruddy was the lone Golden Eagle to finish the game with multiple hits, going 2-for-4 on the day while sophomore Drew DeBlasiis was the only Brockport member to get an extra base hit with a fourth inning ground rule double. Martin reached base twice with walks. Fera threw five innings giving up two runs while striking out four batters.
Brockport will host St. John Fisher tomorrow in its home opener at 4 p.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.
