Auburndale, Fla. – The College at Brockport Baseball team trailed in its first two games during its spring break opening games in Florida, but the Golden Eagle bats heated up in key moments to secure two victories over Clarkson in a doubleheader Saturday at Lake Myrtle stadium number seven. Brockport won 10-7 and 3-1 snapping a two game skid.
Brockport (8-2 Overall) gave up runs in both games during the first inning to fall behind early but multiple rallies pushed them past the Knights. The Golden Eagles totaled 15 hits in game one while needing only seven in game two behind the stellar pitching of Sam McCumiskey.
McCumiskey threw all seven innings coming up big on several occasions with strikeouts when the situation called for one. In total, he finished with 13 strikeouts the most since Zach Lander last season finished with 14 strikeouts on March 30 against Oneonta.
Game 1: Brockport 10 – Clarkson 7
Seven Golden Eagles finished with multiple hits in the high scoring event, while Jimmy Lovelass picked up a win in his first game pitched in more than a year. Kyle Perez entered the game with runners on in the seventh and two outs, earning his first save of the season.
The Golden Eagles began the game in a 4-0 deficit before scoring its first run in the bottom of the second. Luke Gilbert singled to start a two out rally, followed by a Dane Cala single before the bases were loaded on a fielding error by the shortstop. Greg Ruddy singled to left field, knocking in Gilbert for the only Golden Eagle run.
Chris Davis crushed a ball to deep center field for a triple to lead off the third. He scored on a similarly hit ball by Josh Martin to center field, but the Knight had shifted spots to be in better position to make the play giving Martin a sacrifice fly run batted in.
Brockport exploded for three runs in the fifth to take a 5-4 lead. Wes Burghardt led the inning off with a single before Davis doubled down the right field line, scoring Burghardt. Paul Ludden knocked in Davis and advanced to second on the attempt to get Davis out at the plate. He scored on Gilbert's single.
Derick Fera, who entered the game in the third inning and threw three strong innings was relieved in the sixth by Lovelass. Fera finished the game with 3.2 innings pitched allowing three hits and one run while striking out three batters.
Cala singled in the sixth inning before Bret Sanders sacrificed his at-bat with a bunt to advance Cala to second base. Ruddy walked and Burghardt doubled to right center field knocking in both runners after Cala had stolen third base. Charlie Serino pinch ran for Burghardt before Davis walked. Drew DeBlasiis pinch ran for Davis prior to Josh Martin getting hit by a pitch to load the bases.
Ludden doubled down the left field line scoring both pinch runners. Joe Bender's single through the left side scored Martin for the final Golden Eagle run of the game, putting Brockport ahead 10-5.
With Brockport ahead 10-7, a runner on first with two outs head coach Justin Beach selected Perez to finish out the game and secure the Green and Gold victory.
Ruddy, Burghardt, Davis, Ludden, Bender, Gilbert and Cala finished with two hits apiece as the team totaled 15 hits collectively. Ludden led the team with three runs batted in, while Davis scored two runs.
Game 2: Brockport 3 – Clarkson 1
Clarkson jumped on the board three batters into the first inning. A single and double to right field put the Knights up 1-0 but McCumiskey struck out the next two batters with two swinging strikeouts.
The Knights again found themselves in scoring position during inning two when the leadoff hitter singled and stole second. Two strikeouts later, McCumiskey hit a batter putting runners on first and second with two outs. He froze the final batter of the second with a curve to get ahead in the count and painted the corners with fastballs to finish the inning keeping Brockport within one run.
The Golden Eagles offense struck in the fourth inning when Wes Burghardt doubled down the left field line. Chris Davis singled up the middle as Burghardt raced around third for home scoring without a throw to tie the game at 1-1.
The Knights may have threatened in the bottom half of the inning if it weren't for an amazing play by shortstop Greg Ruddy. Clarkson's second batter of the inning hit a ball back at the pitcher that ricocheted off of McCumiskey's glove trickling back into no-man's land. However Ruddy came charging into bare hand the ball firing an off balanced throw to first just beating the runner for the second out of the inning. The next batter singled but Luke Gilbert tracked down a liner in center field for the innings final out.
Gilbert started a two out rally in the seventh inning to help push the Golden Eagles ahead. He singled through the left side before Drew DeBlasiis drilled a pitch to deep center field for a triple, knocking in Gilbert for a 2-1 lead. In Josh Martin's second at-bat of the game he sent a line drive to center field to tack on another run giving the Green and Gold a 3-1 lead.
McCumiskey continued his dominating form striking out the first two batters of the seventh and final inning before a fly out to Gilbert ended the doubleheader.
Burghardt and Davis finished the game with two hits apiece. McCumiskey threw all seven innings allowing one run on five hits and zero walks.
Brockport next plays Western New England on Sunday at 3:30 p.m. Be sure to stay up to date on all your Golden Eagle scores and awards by following @BportAthletics on Twitter and by liking the "Brockport Golden Eagles" Facebook page.