Brockport ends decade-long playoff drought by washing out Elmira

By: Elias Vega-Diaz BROCKPORT, NY -  The last time the Golden Eagles stepped onto a playoff field, they were sent home by the SUNY Cortland Red Dragons, who went on to win the SUNYAC championship in 2015. On Monday, 17-17 Brockport returned to the postseason as the 5 seed and made sure this trip lasted longer by defeating the No. 8 seed (13-22) Elmira Eagles 11-3 in a mercy-rule victory in the first round of the Empire 8 Tournament.

"It's the best feeling I think I've had in a really, really long time", reflected Brockport softball head coach Mary Karen Wheat. "It's the best offensive production we've had all season."

Brockport duggout celebrating their walk-off mercy rule win on the first base line. Monday, May 4, 2026. (Photo: Liv Metz/Brockport Athletics)

Do-it-all Pitcher/DH Liana DeValder started off Brockport's first playoff game in over 10 years with an electric 1st inning. DeValder started in the circle and made quick work of Elmiras' leadoff lineup, striking all three batters to flip the frame. At the bottom of the 1st, DeValder rolled on Brockport's momentum to score an RBI triple. With Natalie Faas situated at second after her single and a stolen base, DeValder pulled the ball to left field. The catch was bobbled to the wall by Elmiras Sophie Temple, prompting DeValder to speed past second and reach safely to third, netting her first RBI hit of the day. DeValder was then driven in by Brockport's second baseman Caitlyn Dailey for an RBI single to put Brockport up 2-0. With a firm 2-0 lead, DeValder was taken deep in the top of the second by Elmiras first baseman Teonna Cruz. Situated off a 2-1 count, Cruz belted a fastball inside to deep left field, going so far as to hit the left side of the scoreboard at Clark V. Whited Field, bringing the score to 2-1. Brockport responded in the bottom half of the frame to reclaim the lead. With Natalie Faas at second, center fielder Julia Hill attacked a ball on the first pitch to send it to left field, hitting the barnhouse beyond the outfield for her fourth home run of the year. With the rousing 2-run homer, Brockport pulled ahead 4-1 against Elmira. "I went up there, and I was not gonna let it (getting out) happen again," Hill said about her approach before the two-run blast. "I just threw my best at the ball, and I got lucky that it was fair and went over (the left field wall)."

CF Julia Hill trots the third base side after a go-ahead 2-run home run. Monday, May 4, 2026. (Photo: Liv Metz/Brockport Athletics)

The Golden Eagles continued their offensive momentum in the third inning, with second baseman Caitlyn Dailey netting her second RBI of the day. With pinch runner Isabella Moya situated at second, Dailey made contact with a single to center, sending Moya to score in blazing fashion. Later in the frame, Brockport capitalized on a pitching change by Elmira, which led to the bases being occupied by pinch-runner Lila Lovgren at second, followed by Paige Wentland at first off an error. Catcher Reagan Myers then scored Lila Lovgren after a dribbler in the infield was handled by Elmira's first baseman Teonna Cruz to get Myers out, leaving Lovgren free to run home and put Brockport up 6-1. The fourth saw more runs tacked on by Brockport, as Liana DeValder returned to the plate for her second RBI hit of the day. With Julia Hill on base after a single, DeValder singled to center, prompting Hill to dash home and lengthen Brockport's lead by 7-1. Later in the inning, with Saylor Ayers and Caitlyn Dailey at second and third, Paige Wentland ripped a single right to Elmira's shortstop Kendall Curreri that was too hot to handle, leading both women to score off the error and increasing Brockport's lead 9-1. Heading into the top of the fifth with the reality of a mercy rule ahead of them, Elmira extended the game by a timely home run from center fielder Hannah Colwill. With two outs and catcher Ashlyn VanVleet at first, Colwill belted a sharp home run dead center just over the wall. With Elmiras's own two-run home run, they sat at a score of 3-9. However, Brockport found a way to end the game early. With two runs left to score for a mercy rule, designated player Aubrey Ennis brought Brockport with an RBI double that sent Julia Hill home, and one run away from a mercy rule finish. With Isabella Moya being brought in at second to pinch run again, Caitlyn Dailey logged her third RBI of the day, sending a flyout to center field that allowed Moya to speed home and score the final run to end the game on a mercy rule walkoff to win 11-3. Starter Liana DeValder dazzled on the pitching side for Brockport, securing the win with another solid start. DeValder finished with 12 strikeouts over five innings, just four short of tying the single-game program record. Brockport now advances to the second day of the tournament and will face 2025 Empire 8 finalists, the 2 seed (27-11) St. John Fisher Cardinals. The matchup will take place on Thursday, with first pitch scheduled for 11:30 am.