ROCHESTER, N.Y. – Junior relief man Nick Jerolimov entered the game with The College at Brockport baseball team down, but quieted the bats of Rochester as he fanned eight batters in five and two thirds innings pitched in route to the Golden Eagles 8-6 victory.
Brockport (19-15 Overall) and Rochester (17-14 Overall) each finished the game with 14 hits apiece. Jerolimov entered the game in the middle of the fourth inning with bases loaded and a score of 4-3 in favor of the Red Jackets. He struck out the first batter he faced but the third strike eluded catcher Paul Ludden's glove allowing the ball to get to the backstop which opened the way for Rochester's fifth run. He got the next batter to ground out to maintain the score at 5-3 entering the bottom of the fourth.
The Green and Gold scored twice to even things back up. Greg Ruddy led the inning off with an infield single to the shortstop before advancing to third on a hit and run single from Paul Ludden. Ludden alertly took second base on a pitch to Wesley Burghardt that trickled away from the catcher. The ball did not get far enough from the catcher for Ruddy to make a dash at home plate.
However just two pitches later a wild pitch allowed both Golden Eagles to advance bases before Burghardt's ground out to the shortstop allowed Ludden to score and tie the game up, 5-5 before the sixth inning.
Both Rochester and Brockport were unable to score in the sixth inning, both sending the minimal three batters to the plate. However the Yellow Jackets were able to score their first run of the game off of Jerolimov in the seventh on back-to-back two out doubles, giving Rochester the 6-5 advantage.
The Golden Eagles proved triumphant with three runs of its own in the bottom half of the seventh. Ludden got things started, staying patient working a full count walk before Burghardt singled to right centerfield.
Chris Davis' also singled to right center allowing Ludden to cross the plate, neutralizing the previous Rochester advantage. Josh Martin lined a 2-0 fastball over the plate into left field for another run scoring single which put Brockport ahead 7-6 prior to an infield single from Eli Carrera forced the Yellow Jackets into a change on the mound.
Tim Segrue watched two straight pitches called for strikes before two breaking pitches missed the strike zone. On the fifth pitch of the at bat he chopped a grounder into the turf towards the shortstop position which the Yellow Jacket third baseman cut off and got Segrue out at first. Segrue's grounder scored Davis putting Brockport ahead by two runs.
The two run cushion proved to be beneficial as the Yellow Jackets were able to knock one run across the plate in the ninth inning after loading the bases before a fly out to Carrera in right field ended the threat and game.
The middle of Brockport's lineup continued to stay hot as Ludden, Burghardt, Davis, Martin and Carrera all finished with multiple hits. Davis finished with two runs batted in while also walking twice. Jerolimov and starting pitcher Derick Fera finished the game with a combined 12 strikeouts.
Brockport will travel to Ithaca on Wednesday before its final SUNYAC series of the year in New Paltz this 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.