BROCKPORT, N.Y. – Brockport baseball's roller coaster game Friday against State University of New York Athletic Conference's (SUNYAC) Fredonia carried over into games two and three of this weekend's home stand during a densely populated "Hometown Heroes" event at Clark V. Whited Complex as the Golden Eagles split the doubleheader with Fredonia.
Brockport (18-15 Overall, 9-6 SUNYAC) and Fredonia (16-17 Overall, 6-9 SUNYAC) were in a battle consistently through both of Saturday's contests as the Blue Devils took game one in extra innings by a score of 5-4 before Brockport rallied for a walk-off 6-5 win in game two.
Game 2: Brockport 6 – Fredonia 5
Senior pitcher Kyle Perez celebrated senior day with his second victory of the season, just one day removed from picking up a win on Friday. He did not possess the stellar numbers of Friday's game but was effective in the outing to pair with fellow senior Tyler Clifford's quality start to pitch Brockport to victory.
The Golden Eagles painfully lost in 12 innings during game one and game two seemed destined for extras when the Blue Devils scored with two outs in the top of the ninth to even the score at 5-all. However Brockport took advantage of a wild pitch followed by a passed ball as Paul Ludden, who previously reach base on a fielder's choice moved all the way to third base.
Following a Joe Bender walk, Ryan Juergen's pinch hit for Brockport in the cleanup position. The junior transfer came up big as he drilled a 1-0 fastball back up the middle towards the pitcher. The ball glanced off the mitt of the Blue Devil pitcher and ricocheted into no man's land allowing Ludden to score for the winning run.
Clifford threw seven innings giving up two earned runs as he allowed eight hits. When he exited the game prior to the start of the eighth inning the score was tied 3-3 until Fredonia took the momentary lead with a run off Perez.
However the Golden Eagles offense responded when one of the game's most valuable players, Josh Martin came up big with a one out single. Senior Timothy Segrue continued to swing a hot bat as he works his way back in the lineup from injury, singling the ball on a line into right field. Senior Brett Sander's sent the second pitch he saw into deep left field, one hopping the fence to score both runners and give the Golden Eagles the 5-4 lead heading into the ninth which set the stage for the late game heroics by Juergens.
Martin also knocked in two runs with a double to left field during the fourth inning. His ball stayed fair by just a few feet down the line as it scored teammates Wesley Burghardt and Ludden. The two scores were the first runs of game two and put Brockport ahead 2-0.
After two runs of their own in the top of the fifth to knot the score up Brockport reengaged its offensive attack with a single run in the bottom half of the frame. Sanders led the inning off with a single before senior shortstop Greg Ruddy singled up the middle. Ludden reached base on an infield single that the Fredonia shortstop made a great play to keep from reaching the outfield. Burghardt, hitting in the three hole, lined a 1-1 pitch into left field that was caught but deep enough to score Sanders with a sacrifice fly.
Four Golden Eagles finished with multiple hits including seniors Ruddy, Martin and Sanders to go out on top during the senior day game that was preceded with a small ceremony celebrating the careers of the 11 seniors on the 2016 roster. Those seniors include Ruddy, Martin, Sanders, Segrue, Clifford, Perez, Burghardt, Chris Davis, Josh Appel, Derick Fera and Eli Carrera.
Game 1: Fredonia 5 – Brockport 4 (12 innings)
SUNYAC rules stipulate that game two of a SUNYAC series are scheduled to be played for seven innings, but this contest was destined to go into extras as both teams runs were duplicated back-and-forth all the way until the 12th when Fredonia's lone extra run proved the difference.
Junior starting pitcher Sam McCumiskey threw a masterful game for the Green and Gold as he completed eight innings, striking out four while allowing only a single unearned run.
In exciting fashion and with a flair for the extreme Brockport, was trailing in the ninth inning as it made its way to the plate with a 2-1 score in favor of the Blue Devils. However leadoff man Ruddy, remained patient and watched four straight balls after an initial strike to put the tying runner on base.
He advanced to second before Ludden singled through the left side. Segrue entered the game as a pinch hitting decoy, as he laid down a bunt in sacrifice fashion but reached base on an infield single to make the bases loaded. Davis hit an elevated fly to centerfield that scored Ruddy to continue the extra inning affair.
Once again in dramatic fashion Brockport went into the bottom half of an inning trailing during extra innings, this time in the 11th as the Green and Gold trailed 4-2. However the middle portion of the senior heavy lineup came up big as four straight singles from Ludden, Segrue, Davis and Martin evened things back up to send the game one more frame.
Fredonia scored in the 12th inning as relief man Jimmy Lovelass nearly got the Golden Eagles out of the inning unscathed with a potential double play ball after entering the game with the bases loaded and one out. However the play went down as a fielder's choice and a run scored after the individual that hit the ball was safe on the play at first.
In the bottom half of the inning Dane Cala took advantage of a Blue Devil defense playing back and laid down a bunt for a single with one out. Next man up, Ruddy hit the ball squarely but settles for a fielder's choice as he hustled down the line refusing to end the game. Ludden also hit the ball right on the sweet spot but the ball took a favorable hop to the third baseman for the final out of the game.
Brockport's first run came in the third inning set up by a great hustle play from Cala, who beat out the pitcher to first on a ball that took the first baseman towards the right side hole. Ludden followed one batter later with a line drive shot to right center for a run scoring double.
Ludden and Cala each finished game one with three hits apiece as Cala needed just four at bats to get to that total. Segrue and Martin were the only other Golden Eagles with multiple hits as Segrue interestingly enough began his season with three straight hits before finally getting out in the second game of Saturday's doubleheader.
Brockport Athletics would like to thank to all those that planned, executed and participated today making the "Hometown Heroes" event a success. The "Hometown Heroes" event was created to help show support to the service men and women of our country.
Brockport will face Rochester on Tuesday April 26 at 4 p.m. in its second to last home game of the season. 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.
Side note: Eli Carrera's story of perseverance in baseball will be featured tomorrow on the College Sports Beat television show that airs in Rochester, N.Y. on Sunday's at 11:30 a.m. on 13-WHAM (ABC).