CORTLAND, N.Y. – Saturday's doubleheader split with Cortland gave Brockport (13-8, 6-2 SUNYAC) their first series win over No. 2 Cortland (18-5, 4-2 SUNYAC) since the 2013 season.
Ben Moxley picked up the win in game two over his former team, going 5.1 innings while allowing just three earned runs and striking out four.
Game 1: L, 4-1
Mark Giallanzo got the start in the opening game of the doubleheader, and pitched well in five innings of work, allowing four runs, only one of which was earned. Alex Weingarten went the distance for Cortland, picking up his fourth win of the season.
Brockport's sole run in the contest came in the third inning, when
Mike D'Eletto drove a single through the left side to drive in
Joe Bender who had led off the inning with a base knock of his own.
The run gave Brockport a 1-0 lead that was short lived, as the Red Dragons notched two runs of their own in the bottom of the third to take a lead that they would not surrender.
Weingarten shut down the Golden Eagle offense after the third, not allowing a base runner for the remainder of the game.
Seve Kowalski pitched the sixth inning for Brockport, surrendering a hit and a walk but working out of trouble without allowing a run.
Game 2: W, 8-7
The offense came alive in game two, as Brockport erupted for eight runs on 13 hits.
Dane Cala registered three hits from the leadoff spot, and crossed the plate for three of the Golden Eagle runs.
The big inning came in the top of the fifth, when trailing 3-2, Brockport scored four runs to take a 6-3 lead. The rally began with two outs when Cala singled through the left side and advanced to second on an
Avery Brooks single.
Paul Ludden got the scoring started with a base knock that plated Cala before
Anthony Eaton made it four base knocks in a row, scoring Brooks from second.
Matt Van Allen and
Luke Gilbert kept the offense rolling, each driving RBI singles to center to complete the impressive four run stanza.
Cala was in the middle of the action again the sixth, slapping a one out single before rounding the bases on a hit batsmen and two wild pitches. Brockport threatened for more when they loaded the bases, but Cortland was able to work out of the jam, keeping the game within reach at 7-3.
After the Red Dragons scratched across runs in the sixth and seventh to come to within two,
Tom Kretzler gave Brockport some insurance with his RBI single in the ninth that drove in
Luke Gilbert.
Casey Piazza came up with a clutch performance in the bottom of the seventh, coming in with one out and runners on second and third in a two-run ballgame. The sophomore worked out of the jam, striking out the first batter he faced before forcing a popout to the shortstop to end the inning.
D'Eletto came in to pitch the final two innings after starting the game at shortstop, picking up his first save of the season. Cortland had the tying run at second with two outs in the bottom of the ninth, but D'Eletto held strong, forcing a flyout to right field that ended the game.
Brockport will host their first two home games of the season this week, beginning with Ithaca at 4 p.m. on Wednesday before a matchup with St. John Fisher on Friday at 4 p.m.
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