BROCKPORT, N.Y. – The College at Brockport Baseball team celebrated a State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) sweep over SUNY Oneonta, closing out its three game series with a 10-2 win on Easter Sunday during the Golden Eagles home opener at Clark V. Whited Complex.
Brockport (15-5 Overall, 6-0 SUNYAC) remains unbeaten in SUNYAC play with its second sweep of the year and remains in first place in the conference as the only team without multiple losses. The Golden Eagles followed the common trend of the series with stellar pitching backed by strong defensive effort and solid offensive production.
Junior Austin Spindler earned his fifth victory of the season allowing just a single run, joining teammate Sam McCumiskey and Cortland's Tanner Whiteman as the only pitchers in conference with five victories during the young season. Spindler consistently pounded the strike zone keeping his defense locked in mentally as he pitched to contact.
The Golden Eagles opened up the scoring for its third straight game in the third inning. Luke Gilbert singled with one out, before Dane Cala reached on a fielder's choice. Cala stole second base and scored when Brett Sanders turned on a 2-2 pitch lining the ball into centerfield scoring Cala for the 1-0 lead.
Wesley Burghardt hit a ball just down the left field line for a double in the fourth inning to lead things off. Catcher Paul Ludden knocked him in with a shot into right center, legging out a RBI double. Drew DeBlasiis followed the double with a hard hit ball that skipped off the second baseman's glove allowing Ludden to score for the 3-0 advantage.
Ludden came up big during the top of the fifth when the Red Dragons were threatening after the leadoff man was hit by a pitch with an unconventional double play. The second batter hit a ball towards second base with Burghardt scooping the ball for a potential double play getting the runner out at second before the throw to first was out of Chris Davis' reach. Ludden hustling down the line backed the play up and threw the runner out at second as the Red Dragon tried to advance on the overthrown ball.
Brockport doubled its runs with three more in the fifth. Cala singled and advanced to second on a wild pitch before shortstop Greg Ruddy singled through the right side scoring Cala with two outs. After a Burghardt walk, Davis sent a ball soaring into left centerfield for a two run double. The Golden Eagles added another run in the sixth on a sacrifice fly by Sanders which scored Ludden after he reached base with a bunt single.
The Red Dragons scored its first run of the game in the seventh off of Spindler and added one unearned run off of freshman lefty reliever Casey Piazza. The Golden Eagle defense got two outs at third base when Ruddy caught the runner in no man's land when he fielded the ball at shortstop. The next batter singled off of first base with one runner on. The Red Dragon runner tried to take two bases on the play but Cala came up running with a laser to Sanders at third for the final out of the top of the eighth.
Eli Carrera pinch hit in the eighth and quickly worked a walk on four straight pitches. Gilbert bunted him over before Sanders walked with two outs. Ruddy had a 2-2 count with two outs and two runners on and delivered a big bases clearing double in left centerfield. Burghardt lined a ball through the left side of the field to plate Ruddy giving the Green and Gold its 10th run of the contest.
Nick Jerolimov entered the game in the ninth to relieve Piazza. During his first batter faced he fell behind 3-0 but battled back to earn a strikeout. He made quick work of the next batter firing his heavy fastball past the frozen batter. The final batter hit a ball well towards the left center gap as Carrera ranged far to his left making a diving catch to conclude the game and series.
Ruddy, Burghardt and Ludden each had multiple hits while Ruddy led the team with three RBI. Ruddy, Burghardt, Ludden and Cala each scored two runs apiece. Spindler threw seven innings allowing one run on three hits and five walks while producing one ground ball inducing double play.
Brockport will play RIT on Wednesday at 4 p.m. before hosting SUNYAC rival Cortland next weekend. 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.