Golden Eagles dominate in home opener

By: Victor Menendez

BROCKPORT, N.Y. --- After falling behind 4-2 in the fourth inning, the Brockport Golden Eagles offense exploded for 12 runs in their final three innings, mercy ruling the Houghton Highlanders 14-4 in their home opener on Tuesday.

Matt Coon and Michael Norton with bats in hand. (Photo: Liv Metz/Brockport Athletics)

"I think we made great adjustments in-game," Brockport head coach Nick Pontari said. "Little bit of a slow start, but we found our timing, got back to our approach and the boys were ready to go second half of the game, for sure."

Designated hitter Nick Mahar got the Golden Eagles on the board first in the second inning. With runners on second and third and one out, Mahar singled off the glove of first baseman Ty Kenney, trickling into right field and scoring James Dixon and Evan Brock to put Brockport up 2-0.

Houghton came roaring back in the top of the fourth. After tying the game on a balk and a double from Nate Hall, Ty Kenney smacked a two-run homer to right field, putting the Highlanders up 4-2 and bringing nearly the entire Houghton team out of the dugout in celebration.

"The guys got it," Pontari said. "We talk about it all the time, don't look at the scoreboard just play. Play our brand of baseball. You continue to put pressure on them. These guys are ready for whatever. They're smart, their IQ is there, they know what to do. We've been in these types of games before so these guys know exactly how it works."

The guys did, in fact, have it. A double from Michael Norton and a HBP from Matt Coon put two ducks on the pond for Evan Brock, the team RBI leader. Brock added to that total by driving in his 32nd and 33rd runs of the year to tie the score at four.

After a textbook bunt from Dixon advanced Brock to third base, Kyle Blake drove him in with a sac fly to put the Golden Eagles in the lead.

"You just gotta trust that you're gonna get it down," Dixon said. "Set the angle early, that's all it is. And confidence that you're gonna do it."

Charles Searle kept the Houghton offense in check out of the Golden Eagles bullpen in relief of starter Nick Ianniello. The sophomore twired three hitless, scoreless innings, allowing just one walk, striking out two.

Brockport's offense continued to pile on in the bottom of the sixth with the first six batters reaching base safely, a few of which came on bunt singles, putting the Golden Eagles up 9-4. Matt Mayer added on later in the inning with an RBI single to push the lead to six runs.

"Guys work on (bunting) every day," Pontari said. "That's part of our routine every single day. We try and get some form of bunting whether it's sac bunts, bunts for hits. Whether it be off a live arm, off the BP arm machine, every single day we try to get some sort of that going on."

A towering two-run homer from Norton put the Golden Eagles up 12-4 in the bottom of the seventh. Dixon added on with an RBI single that scored Brock before scoring the winning run himself on a passed ball.

With the win, the Golden Eagles improve to 16-13 and 12-0 in Empire 8 conference play, their 14th win in a row. Houghton falls to 11-13 and 3-10 in conference play with the loss.

Brockport will travel to Russell Sage on Friday to begin arguably the biggest series of the regular season for the Golden Eagles. not only are the Gators also undefeated in conference play, not only did Brockport beat them in the Empire 8 championship game last year, on top of all that, Pontari was the Gators head coach last year before deciding to come to Brockport to be the Golden Eagles head coach this year.

First pitch on Friday is scheduled for 3 p.m. Then they'll play a doubleheader on Saturday at 12 and 2 p.m.