Brockport, NY- The #1 seeded Brockport baseball team defended home field, downing #5 seed Houghton in the opening round of the Empire 8 Championships, 11-1, on Thursday, May 8^th. The Golden Eagles earned their 34^th win of the season, tying the most in a single season since 2004.
 
Ryan Peters (W, 6-1) was untouchable across eight innings of work, allowing just one hit with 12 strikeouts and one unearned run. His 12 strikeouts and eight innings pitched both marked career highs.
 
Nine different Golden Eagles reached base safely, with James Dixon (1-2) and Nick Mahar (2-4, R) leading the squad with two RBI each.
 
Frank Vanzillotta (2-4, 2 SB) was excellent from the leadoff spot, scoring twice and reaching base safely three times.
 
Brockport would jump ahead quickly in the first inning, plating four runs in the inning. Kyle Blake would draw a bases-loaded walk, with a James Dixon sacrifice fly, and Nick Mahar's RBI single highlighting the scoring in the inning.
 
Following a Houghton run in the third, Mahar and Dixon would strike again. Mahar would drive in a run with an RBI single to highlight a three-run inning, with Brockport going ahead 8-1.
 
Dixon would drive in another run in the fourth with an RBI single, scoring Kyle Blake to extend Brockport's lead to 9-1.
 
A Zach Eldred bases-loaded walk and wild pitch would round out the scoring for Brockport, with the Golden Eagles cruising to an 11-1 victory.
 
Brendan Pajak would toss a scoreless ninth inning, collecting two strikeouts.
 
Kyle Blake (2-3, 2BB) led all Golden Eagles with three runs scored, adding an RBI in an excellent all-around performance.
 
Up Next: The Golden Eagles will take on the #2 seed Russell Sage on Day Two of Empire 8 Championships on Friday, May 9^th at noon.