By Zach Harnischfeger
Photo/Brockport Athletics
BROCKPORT, N.Y.--- The Golden Eagles opened up conference play this weekend on the road in SUNY New Paltz. On Friday afternoon, Brockport took both games of the doubleheader. They won the first game 4-3 and the second game 14-4. On Saturday, they came back from a five-run deficit to win 11-10.
Friday, Game One
The Golden Eagles struck first in the top of the third inning after a three-run homerun by first basemen Patrick Bigham made it 3-0.
Photo/Brockport Athletics
New Paltz Hawks catcher Dillion Ristano hit a solo homerun in the bottom of the fourth inning to cut the Brockport lead down to two.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, designated hitter Christopher Sais hit at two run single to left field to tie the game at three.
Photo/Brockport Athletics
In the top of the sixth inning, Brockport second baseman James Houlahan singled and drove in outfielder Ryan Mansell from second base. Both teams weren't able to score again, and the game ended 4-3 in favor of Brockport.
Game Two
In the top of the first inning, Brockport outfielder Zach Eldred doubled and brought home third basemen Johnny Genau and Nicholas Pastore. Later in the inning, shortstop Justin Pangburn earned an RBI after walking with the bases loaded. This made the score 3-0.
In the bottom of the first, New Paltz infielder Michael Boccarossa singled and drove in a run to make it 3-1 Golden Eagles.
Brockport would respond right back with four runs in the top of the second. First, Nick Pastore bunted for a single and drove in second basemen James Houlahan. Later in the inning, third basemen Johnny Genau scored on an error by New Paltz catcher Dillion Ristano.
Photo/ Brockport Athletics
Two batters later, designated hitter Brian Tietjen hit a bloop single and knocked in Pastore. The next batter, Justin Pangburn hit a sacrifice fly and brought in Eldred. After two innings, Brockport led 7-1.
In the top of the third inning, first basemen Patrick Bigham made it 9-1 after hitting a bloop single into right field that scored Pastore and Eldred.
The Hawks added a pair of runs in the bottom of the third. The first run came from catcher Dillion Ristano after he doubled and drove in infielder Tommy Kreider. The next batter, Michael Boccarossa drove in run after grounding out to second basemen James Houlahan. This made it a 9-3 game.
In the top of the fifth inning, outfielder Zach Eldred's two-run blast put Brockport up 11-3. In the top of the sixth inning, Genau singled and drove in Pangburn.
Photo/ Brockport Athletics
Later in the inning, Houlahan would score on a wild pitch. This made it 13-3. In the bottom of the sixth inning, Hawks infielder Chris Thorne singled and drove in outfielder Pierson McGinnis. This made it a 13-4 game. This would be the last run the Hawks would score.
In the top of the eighth inning, Ryan Mansell walked with the bases loaded to bring in Genau from third. The Hawks were unable to score in the bottom of the eighth giving the Golden Eagles the win via the mercy rule, 14-4.
Saturday
Outfielder Ryan Mansell got the scoring started for Brockport in the first inning after bringing home James Houlahan on a single. On the same play, the Hawks committed a throwing error which allowed Zach Eldred to score as well. The Hawks were quickly down 2-0.
Photo/Brockport Athletics
New Paltz responded right back in the bottom of the inning after catcher Dillion Ristano doubled and drove in two runs to tie the game at two apiece. Ristano later scored on a Balk by pitcher Matthew Colucci. This put New Paltz on top 3-2.
In the bottom of the second inning, New Paltz infielder Tommy Kreider singled and drove in outfielder Mike Ascanio. Infielder Chris Thorne would score as well due to a fielding error by Mansell in left. The next batter, catcher Dillion Ristano singled up the middle which brought home Kreider.
Later in the inning, designated hitter Christopher Sais singled and scored Ristano. After two innings, the Hawks found themselves with a commanding 7-2 lead.
In the top of the third inning, Brian Tietjen singled and knocked in Eldred. Two batters later, catcher Colin Coykendall drove in Bigham on a sacrifice fly. This made it a 7-4 game.
Patrick Bigham brought home Genau on a single in the top of the fourth inning. This cut the Hawks lead down to two.
Photo/Brockport Athletics
In the bottom of the fourth inning, the Hawks scored two more runs off of a throwing error by Brockport pitcher Colin Pytlak. Tommy Kreider scored on a passed ball later in the inning. This gave New Paltz a 10-5 lead.
In the top of the fifth inning, with the bases loaded, Nick Pastore walked and brought in Justin Pangburn. The next batter, Zach Eldred hit a two-run double to right field to make it a 10-8 game. Later in the inning, Ryan Mansell tied the game after doubling and driving in Pastore and Eldred.
The next batter, designated hitter Brian Tietjen singled and knocked in the go ahead run to complete the comeback for the Golden Eagles. The Hawks were not able to score in the bottom of the fifth inning and the game was called due to inclement weather giving Brockport the 11-10 win.
Photo/ Brockport Athletics
With the series sweep the Golden Eagles are 3-0 in the conference and improve to 11-6 on the season. The Golden Eagles take on the Plattsburgh State Cardinals at home next weekend for some SUNYAC conference action.