Golden Eagles drop softball home opener doubleheader as slide continues
- Elias Vega-Diaz
- 24 hours ago
- 4 min read
By: Elias Vega-Diaz/Sports Writer BROCKPORT, NY - Entering Monday afternoon, the Brockport Golden Eagles headed into the Clark V. Whited complex for their double-header against the Buffalo State Bisons, positioned at 4-6 and sitting atop the Empire 8 Conference. A tale of two games ended in Brockport dropping both games to the Bisons to slide to 4-8 on the season. “We’re still trying to find a rhythm as a team,” said Brockport Softball Head Coach Mary Karen Wheat. “We showed more fight today in the second game (of the doubleheader) than we have all season, especially after we beat ourselves up in that first game.”
Game 1 - Buffalo State 10, Brockport 1
The Golden Eagles entered the first game with the wind pushing hard against them early on. Starter Makenna Hart worked out of trouble in the top of the first after Buffalo State put runners on the corners. A heads-up play got Hart out of the jam as Buffalo State pitcher Izzy Pedzek grounded out on a fielder’s choice, forcing Ashley Jedrich to break for home plate where she was thrown out. Hart followed by striking out 1B Erin Paolili to end the inning.
Brockport threatened in the bottom half as Caitlyn Dailey and Maeve Brannigan drew walks, but the Golden Eagles stranded two runners after Paige Wentland reached on a fielder’s choice and Dailey was thrown out at third. Both teams continued to tease scoring through the second inning, but neither side could capitalize with runners on base.
The tide turned in the top of the third when Buffalo State exploded for 10 runs. Pitcher Colleen Davis replaced Hart and gave up six runs after walking two batters, hitting two others, and allowing an error. Freshman Liana DeValder entered in relief, but the damage continued as Buffalo State added four more RBIs in the inning. Another error in left field allowed Izzy Pezdek to score, putting Brockport in a 10-0 hole.
Buffalo State slowed down offensively after the third, as DeValder settled in and held the Bisons scoreless through the fourth and fifth innings. Brockport’s best chance came in the fourth when Paige Wentland ripped a leadoff double, but Buffalo State reliever Gianna Core struck out Isabella Parente and Reagan Myers before forcing a groundout to escape the inning.
Brockport finally got on the board in the bottom of the fifth. Erin Dougherty walked and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Julia Hill, then Caitlyn Dailey drove in the lone Brockport run on a sacrifice fly to center field. Maeve Brannigan grounded out to end the game, sealing the 10-1 Buffalo State win.
With the win going to Buffalo State’s Izzy Pezdek, Brockport’s Makenna Hart took the loss after two innings pitched, giving up one hit and four walks against three strikeouts. Wentland’s double in the fourth stood as Brockport’s key hit of the game.
Game 2 - Buffalo State 5, Brockport 4
Brockport and Buffalo State traded runs before sending the game into extras in a polar opposite game from the first. Brockport’s pitcher Liana DeValder took the mound for the Golden Eagles, facing immediate pressure in the first inning. Buffalo State’s Izzy Pezdek singled to center field to drive in Ashley Jedrich, followed by Lexi Quagliana’s RBI single that scored Pezdek, giving the Bisons a 2-0 lead. Brockport struggled to respond, leaving the first two runners stranded after three quick outs.
The Golden Eagles’ offense came alive in the third. Lila Lovgren walked and was moved to second off an Isabella Moya single to pitcher Madison Lucas, who was caught off guard. A 2-RBI single afterwards from Julia Hill brought home Moya and Lovgren, evening the game at 2-2. Caitlyn Dailey kept the hot inning for Brockport to take the lead with a rallying RBI single, giving Brockport a 3-2 lead. Brockport stranded one runner, but it was their first lead of the day.
Buffalo State answered in the fifth inning. Madison Lucas doubled to left field, scoring Jenna Smyczynski to tie the game at 3-3. Natalie Burck followed with a double to bring home Lucas, reclaiming a 4-3 edge for the Bisons. Brockport responded immediately; Julia Hill grounded out 1b–2b–1b to drive in Erin Dougherty, tying the game at 4-4. Caitlyn Dailey singled, but Brockport left the tying run on base.
The game remained tied at 4 until a crucial single by Grace Albano, followed by a stolen base in the eighth inning. An early jump leading to an error in left field by Brockport’s Isabella Moya allowed Natalie Burck to score on an unearned run, giving Buffalo State a 5-4 lead. Brockport went down quietly in the bottom of the frame, with Paige Wentland and Liana DeValder flying out to left, ending the game.
Buffalo State’s Izzy Pezdek earned her second win of the season, pitching to the tune of 5 innings and only letting one earned run with her five strikeouts. Pezdek also shone offensively, hitting 2-for-3 with an RBI double. Brockport’s Liana DeValder took the loss, giving up the walk-off run in the eighth while striking out four. Offensively, Julia Hill led Brockport with two RBIs and a key third-inning double that tied the game.
“To see them (the team) to get to 8 (innings) against a very good team… that fight and that drive, sticking together, it's really important,” said Head Coach Mary Karen Wheat when asked about the difference between Brockport’s drive in both games. The message behind both games from Wheat was one word. “The biggest focus of the year so far has been (moving) forward. We don’t hash on things, we don’t talk about them too much… you just have to move forward.”
Monday’s 2-loss slide was the first of a four-doubleheader series of games for the now 4-8 Golden Eagles. While their matchup Tuesday against Oswego State was postponed due to inclement weather, Brockport will be back at home against the (7-7) Alfred University Saxons on Friday. Game One will start at 3 PM, followed by Game Two at 5 PM. Both games will be broadcast here on 89.1 The Point.