By: Zachary Harnischfeger
BROCKPORT, N.Y.--- The SUNY Brockport Baseball team traveled to Auburndale, Florida for the 2023 RussMatt Central Florida Invitational. Their first two games of the 10-day road trip was a doubleheader against the Clarkson University Golden Knights. The first game was a one run affair with the Golden Eagles edging out the Golden Knights 5-4. The second game was a 9-3 victory for the Golden Eagles.
Game One
The Golden Eagles struck first in the bottom of the first inning after a Sacrifice Fly by first basemen Patrick Bigham scored Johnny Genau from third making it 1-0 Golden Eagles.
Photo/Brockport Athletics
The Golden Knights would be held scoreless again in the top of the second inning. Second basemen James Houlahan singled and drove in Jason Mansell from second to make it a 2-0 game. Justin Pangburn would score on a balk, which put Brockport on top 3-0. Third basemen Johnny Genau singled to left field which would score Houlahan from second. Genau would score after two wild pitches from Clarkson pitcher Tommy Riskin. After two innings the Golden Eagles were up 5-0.
After two scoreless innings from both teams, infielder CJ Cartier got the Golden Knights on the board with an RBI single in the top of the fifth inning. Colby Brouillette would add a run after an RBI single. After five innings, the score was 5-2.
In the top of the sixth inning, Clarkson infielder Jake Millich doubled and drove in James Mason to cut the lead down to 5-3. Cartier would notch his second hit and second RBI of the game, with an RBI single to make it a one run game. The Golden Knights were not able to score in the top of the seventh, and Brockport was able to hold on and win 5-4.
Game Two
The Golden Eagles would strike first again after an RBI single from Patrick Bigham in the top of the first inning. The Golden Knights responded with three runs in the bottom of the inning.
In the top of the second inning, the Golden Eagles answered right back after a two-run single by James Houlahan tied the game at three. This was Houlahan's 100th career hit as a Golden Eagle. Johnny Genau would put the Golden Eagles ahead after a two-run double to left field. After two innings the score was 5-3.
Photo/Brockport Athletics
The game would remain 5-3 until the top of the seventh inning. Right Fielder Zach Eldred singled on a ground ball up the middle and drove in Nicholas Pastore to make it 6-3. After a walk to left fielder Ryan Mansell, catcher David Belsito singled up the middle and drove in two runs and extended the Brockport lead to 8-3. Shortstop Justin Pangburn dropped down a sacrifice bunt which scored Mansell from third. The final score was 9-3.
With these two victories, the Golden Eagles have now won four in a row and currently sit at 4-3 on the season. They will try for win number five as they take on the University of Boston Massachusetts on Sunday night at 6:30.