Brockport, NY – The SUNY Brockport baseball team won 5-3 against the University of Rochester in the team’s first home game of the season on Wednesday. The Golden Eagles have now won six in a row, improving to 20-9 overall on the season.
With his second hit of the contest, Nicholas Pastore passed his former teammate Tom Kretzler for the most career hits all-time in program history. Going 2-for-3 with three RBIs on the day, Pastore collected hits No. 202 and 203 for his career to become the all-time leader in Brockport baseball history.
The Golden Eagles scored the first run of the game in the bottom of the first inning. Justin Pangburn started the game with a single to center field. Nicholas Pastoregrounded out to the pitcher and Pangburn advanced to second base. Zach Eldred singled, and Pangburn advanced to third. Brian Tietjen hit a single to left field, bringing home Pangburn to put Brockport up 1-0 in the first.
The Yellowjackets scored their first run of the game in the top of the third inning. Brockport made sure to keep the lead by responding with a second run in the bottom of the third. Jason Mansell hit a single to center field, followed by a single to left from Pangburn. Pastore grounded out to third base on a sacrifice, moving Mansell to third and Pangburn to second. Zach Eldredwas intentionally walked, making the bases loaded. Tietjen flied out to left field as a sacrifice and Jason Mansell scored the second run for the Green and Gold.
The field was quiet until U of R tied the score up in the top of the fifth at 2-2.
Brockport scored two big runs in the bottom of the sixth. Josh Indek walked with two outs on the board already. Ryan Voight singled to right field and Indek advanced to third. Justin Pangburn walked and the bases were loaded for the second time in the game. Pastore hit a single to right field, batting in both Voight and Indek for the third and fourth runs of the game for the Green and Gold.
The Yellowjackets scored their final run of the game in the top of the seventh. The Golden Eagles scored third final run of the 5-3 game in the top of the eighth inning. Josh Indek hit a double to left field, followed by a sacrifice bunt from Voight, moving him to third base. Pastore singled to right, bringing home Indek for the final insurance run the Golden Eagles to lock up the game.
Zach Eldred started on the hill for the Green and Gold striking out three batters, letting up three hits, one run and three walks during his three innings. Justin DelVecchio relieved Eldred, striking out two batters, letting up two hits and one run across his two innings on the mound. Brian Doherty came in for 0.2 innings letting up two walks. Brendan Pajak entered the game for the final 0.1 of the sixth inning letting up two hits and a run. Cooper Meldrim earned the win for the game after striking out two batters, and letting up one hit, but not runs or walks in his two innings on the hill. Nick Ianniello was awarded the save after pitching the final inning of the game, letting up one hit.
Brockport will be home for a double header Friday, April 21st at noon, against the nationally ranked #19 Cortland Red Dragons at Clark V. Whited Field.