By Zach Harnischfeger
BROCKPORT, N.Y.--- The Golden Eagles played a three-game series this weekend against the Plattsburgh State Cardinals. They swept the doubleheader on Friday winning both games in walk-off fashion. On Saturday, dominate pitching led Brockport to a 5-0 shoutout victory.
Friday, Game One
Game one of the doubleheader was an extra inning affair that ended in 11 innings in favor of Brockport 6-5. Brockport got the first run of the game in the bottom of the third inning after second basemen James Houlahan drove in shortstop Justin Pangburn from second.
Photo/Katie Wilson @ Brockport Athletics
The Cardinals answered right back in the top of the fourth inning. Designated hitter Christian Ott singled up the middle and brought home third basemen Nick Cergol. This tied the game at one apiece.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, after a leadoff double by outfielder Zach Eldred, first basemen Patrick Bigham singled on a ground ball up the middle that scored Eldred. Later in the inning, designated hitter Brian Tietjen hit an RBI single to left field which drove in Bigham. This made it a 3-1 game.
Photo/Katie Wilson @ Brockport Athletics
The game would remain 3-1 until the top of the ninth inning. Cardinals' shortstop Andrew Veit hit a two run double to right field to tie the game at three. In the top of the tenth inning, first basemen Kyle Cremin hit a two-run homerun to left field to put the Cardinals ahead 5-3.
In the bottom of the tenth inning, Zach Eldred scampered home on a wild pitch to make it a 5-4 game. Later in the inning, Justin Pangburn tied the game at five with a sacrifice fly, which brought home outfielder Frankie Vanzillotta.
Photo/Katie Wilson @ Brockport Athletics
In the bottom of the 11th inning, with the bases loaded and one out, shortstop Nick Maher grounded into a fielder's choice that brought home Houlahan from third to win the game for the Golden Eagles. The final score was 6-5.
Game Two
Both starting pitchers were lights out for a majority of the game. Brockport starting pitcher Matthew McGowan threw seven scoreless innings allowing four hits, walking four batters, and striking out five. Plattsburgh starting pitcher Chris Santic pitched eight innings allowing six hits, giving up two runs, walking two and striking out seven.
The game would be scoreless until the ninth inning. In the top of the ninth inning, Cardinals outfielder Conner Gonzalski hit an infield single to drive in Cremin.
In the bottom of the ninth, after a leadoff triple by Brockport outfielder Ryan Mansell, who would later score on a passed ball to tie the game at one, designated hitter Brian Tietjen hit a walk-off solo home run giving Brockport the 2-1 victory.
Photo/Katie Wilson @ Brockport Athletics
Saturday
Brockport starting pitcher Matthew Colucci threw all nine innings of the game allowing one hit and striking out 14 Cardinal batters in the shoutout victory.
Photo/Katie Wilson @ Brockport Athletics
In the bottom of the first inning, outfielder Zach Eldred doubled and drove in Nick Pastore to give Brockport an early 1-0 lead. In the top of the fifth inning, second basemen James Houlahan singled and drove in Justin Pangburn to extend the lead to two.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, catcher Jason Mansell hit a two-run single up the middle which brought home Tietjen and Pangburn. This made it 4-0 Golden Eagles.
Photo/Katie Wilson @ Brockport Athletics
Later in the inning, Zach Eldred recorded his second hit and second RBI of the game when he singled and drove in Houlahan. This was the final run of the game, giving Brockport the 5-0 win.
With the win, the Golden Eagles have now won ten games in a row and improve to 14-6 on the season and 6-0 in the SUNYAC. They return to action on Tuesday when they travel to St. John Fisher to take on the Cardinals at 3pm.