Brockport, N.Y- The Brockport softball team will travel to Naples, Florida to open their season in the Gene Cusic Collegiate Classic tournament. The Golden Eagles will open their 2023 season against the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford on Friday, March 10^th at 9 am.
 
2022 Recap: Brockport finished the 2022 season with a record of 13-19 overall and 6-12 in conference play, finishing 8^th in the SUNYAC, and missing the postseason. The Golden Eagles began the season strong with a 7-5 record in the Gene Cusic Collegiate Classic in Florida, before going 6-14 for the remainder of the season. Two Golden Eagles received all SUNYAC honors. Junior CF Madison Evarts received first-team honors. Evarts produced an impressive .412 batting average, in addition to recording 21 hits and 15 runs in just 18 games played. Senior 2B Cameryn Duggan earned second-team all-SUNYAC honors. Duggan produced her best season as a Golden Eagle, holding a SUNYAC-leading .454 batting average along with an excellent 44 hits and 11 doubles in 29 games.
 
Cusic Classic: Brockport will begin the year competing in the Gene Cusic Collegiate Classic in Naples, Florida. The Golden Eagles will play 12 games in Florida, with contests being held at the Lee County Sports Complex and the North Collier Sports Complex. The team will compete against Pitt-Bradford, Alverno College, John Jay, Western Connecticut State, Wilmington College, Mitchell College, William Paterson, Rutgers, Emerson College, Saint Elizabeth, Crown College, and NYU. Brockport secured victories over Pitt-Bradford and Wilmington College in last year's tournament. See down below for Brockport's full schedule down in Florida.
 
Returning Contributors: Despite losing both all-SUNYAC players from the 2022 season, the Golden Eagles return a significant number of contributors from the 2022 campaign. Overall, Brockport returns 5 players that started 15 games or more in the 2022 season. 1B Annie Dipirro returns for her senior season after posting an impressive .333/.361/.419 slash line and driving in a team-leading 24 runs in 29 games.

OF Olivia Hayden will look to build off her impressive junior season where she was second for the Golden Eagles in hits with 34 in 31 games, and was 5^th on the team in batting average at .321. INF Amanda Blakely will enter her senior year after starting 18 games for the Green and Gold in 2022, Blakely posted a solid .291/.347/.382 slash line as a junior.

Junior Pitcher Roseland Stroh should expect to see more action in the 2023 campaign. In a limited sample size, Stroh posted a 2-0 record and a 2.90 earned run average as a sophomore, striking out 9 batters across 9.2 innings pitched. Fiona Gibiser is also back to pitch for the Green and Gold. As a freshman she went1-1 in five appearances, with 13 strikeouts in 14.0 innings pitched.
 
New Faces: Brockport has added 7 new athletes to the program with five freshmen and two juniors set to wear the Green and Gold for the first time.  Freshman Golden Eagles include 2B/OF Riley Barrett, C/INF Erin Dougherty, SS Caitlyn Dailey, P Laina Beer, and 1B/OF Danielle Wenzek. Juniors Jodie Burdick and Victoria Angelo will also be joining the Green and Gold for the 2023 season.
    
Dumaw's Destiny: Entering his 25^th season with the Golden Eagles, Head Coach John Dumaw is closing in on a remarkable milestone in his career. Dumaw sits just 7 wins away from surpassing the 500-win mark and is among the top 40 winningest, active coaches in NCAA Division III Softball. This season he welcomes a new coach to the program, Assistant Coach Robert Kersch. 
 
Up Next: Once the Golden Eagles get back north after the trip to Florida, they will prepare for their home opener on Wednesday, March 29^th. They will play Nazareth for a non-conference double-head, starting at 3 pm.

Gene Cusic Collegiate Classic Schedule
March 10^th – Brockport vs Pitt-Bradford – 9 am
March 10^th – Brockport vs Alverno – 1 pm
March 11^th – Brockport vs John Jay – 9 am
March 11^th – Brockport vs Western Conn St. – 11 am
March 12^th – Brockport vs Wilmington – 1 pm
March 12^th – Brockport vs Mitchell – 3 pm
March 13^th – Brockport vs William Paterson – 1 pm
March 13^th – Brockport vs Rutgers – 3 pm
March 14^th – Brockport vs Emerson – 9 am
March 14^th – Brockport vs Saint Elizabeth – 11 am
March 15^th – Brockport vs Crown College – 11 am
March 15^th – Brockport vs NYU – 1 pm