Clermont, FL – The SUNY Brockport softball team lost its final two games down in Florida on Thursday to finish up the trip. After losses to Smith College (3-0) and Lawrence University (9-5), Brockport heads back up north with a record of 2-8.
 
Game 1: Brockport 0, Smith 3
 
In the first game of the doubleheader on Thursday, the Smith College Pioneers got on the board right away. They scored two runs in the first inning, including a solo home run on the first at bat of the contest.
 
Smith added another run in the third inning, to take a 3-0 lead. Following that score in the inning, neither team would allow another run for the remainder of the game. Bailey Gray through a complete game shutout for the Pioneers.
 
Fiona Gibiser (L, 0-3) got the start for Brockport in this one, allowing three earned runs in 3.0 innings of action. Kendall Phillips stepped into the circle in relief midway through the game. She pitched 4.0 innings, while allowing just one hit to go with seven strikeouts and no runs.
 
Riley Barrett (1-3), Kellie Gentile (1-2, 2B), and Caitlyn Dailey (1-3) all connected for hits. Natalie Faas and Jackie DuTot both reached base as well by drawing walks. Coming in as a pinch runner in the third, Cece Rappleyea slid in safely with a stolen base.
 
Game 2: Brockport 5, Lawrence 9
 
The second game of the day saw the Lawrence University Vikings take a 2-0 lead in the first inning. In the top of the third, Brockport got on the board with a run. Jackie DuTot scored from third base after an error to make it a 2-1 game. Lawrence answered in the bottom half of the inning with one run, going up 3-1.
 
The Vikings then jumped out to a big lead after scoring five runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. They would enter the top of the fifth with an 8-1 advantage, but the Green and Gold fought to get back into the game.
 
Grace Talbut helped get Olivia Simone in to score, making it an 8-2 score. Lawrence responded in the bottom of the fifth to make the count 9-2 going into the sixth inning.
 
The Golden Eagles started to click offensively in the sixth, in need of a big rally. An RBI double from Aubrey Ennis brought Riley Barrett in to score to get things started. Soon after, Brockport saw Natalie Fass rip a single up the middle to score two more runs.
 
The rally in the sixth brought the squad within striking distance, with the score at 9-5 going into the seventh. Although the Golden Eagles had momentum on their side to start the final inning, Lawrence was solid defensively to close out the game to halt the comeback attempt.
 
Natalie Faas went 2-for-3 at the plate with two RBIs, while Olivia Simone was 2-for-4 with a double and one run scored. Emma DeJesus (1-4), Paige Wentland (1-2), Aubrey Ennis (1-2, 2B), Erin Dougherty (1-4), and Jackie DuTot (1-4, 2B) all had hits in the contest.
 
Rose Stroh (L, 0-1) started at pitcher for the Green and Gold, going 2.0 innings with two hits and two runs allowed. Kendall Phillips had a pair of strikeouts in 1.1 innings of work, giving up three runs. Fiona Gibiser finished out the final 2.2 inning in the circle, allowing just one run on three hits during her shift.
 
The Golden Eagles have officially completed its trip to Florida to compete in The Spring Games to open the 2024 season. They are scheduled to face Houghton University on Tuesday, March 26^th back in the state of New York for doubleheader starting at 3pm.