Tourney ends for softball in semifinals to Cortland

The Brockport softball team went in to the weekend of the SUNYAC tournament hoping to walk out with a title. Unfortunately, that did not happen for the Golden Eagles, as they were bounced out of the tournament, with losses to Buffalo State and Cortland.

Brockport's first opponent was Plattsburgh, the No. 7 seed in the conference. It was a game where Brockport held their breath until the final pitch. They were able to escape with a 4-2 win over the Cardinals. Brockport entered the tournament as the second seed, and were planning to gain a crucial win in the double-elilmination SUNYAC tournament.



Plattsburgh got the first run off a single, bringing in a runner pushed to third by a steal and a quick single. Brockport couldn't get the bats going in the first three innings as the Golden Eagles were down 2-0 in the sixth inning. In the bottom of the fourth, Brockport got on the board when Ona Halladay singled up the middle and was advanced by Melissa Boyle's single to the shortstop.



Becca Pringle brought in Halladay with a single to left center to bring Brockport to within one. The Golden Eagles held the Cardinals scoreless in the fifth and entered the bottom of the fifth still down 2-1. After a Nikki Odrobina fly out, Rachel Maxon got the inning started with a triple to right field. Halladay was intentionally walked after a Kristina Wood groundout, and Lindsay Szymanski brought in one run with a double to left center, tying the game at 2-2.



Boyle then gave Brockport the lead with a single to the shortstop, as Halladay scored, and Szymanski scored off a throwing error. Brockport had three runs on three hits in the inning, and were up 4-2 in the sixth, where Brockport would stay. The win went to Stephanie Geer, who gave up six hits, two runs and struck out five.

Brockport's second game in the SUNYAC tournament pitted them against Buffalo State, a team that the Golden Eagles split the season series with, and beat them in this second game by a final of 6-0.

Buffalo State started hot with two runs in the top of the first, then became quiet for two innings before rattling off four runs in the third and fourth. Brockport had four hits on the game, but was unable to get any runners on base. Only four were left on base throughout the game.

Kelly Briscoe got the loss in the second game, giving up five earned runs (the sixth scored on an error), and striking out five. The loss dropped Brockport into a "win-or-go-home" situation against Oneonta.

Brockport split the season series against Oneonta 1-1 and was able to squeak by the Red Dragons, winning by a final score of 2-1.

The first inning started with a Wood single up the middle. Halladay followed by singling in Wood.

Szymanski then singled, as Halladay looked primed to score, but was thrown out at home, ending the inning with only one run on three hits. But, that was enough to hold the lead, as Geer took the mound in her normal fashion, striking out eight for the game.

Oneonta grabbed a run in the bottom of the fourth, but the Golden Eagles took the lead back in the sixth. The inning started with a Halladay single, and pinch runner Lisa Slocum advanced to second off a sacrifice bunt by Szymanski; Slocum then came in to score after a Pringle double. Geer held the lead in the sixth and seventh innings and won the game by a final of 2-1.

Brockport then faced Cortland in an elimination game. Cortland was able to squeak by and advance by a final of 1-0. They scored their one run in the bottom of the first inning, and then Red Dragon pitching took over, striking out nine Brockport hitters, only allowing two hits with no walks.

Geer pitched a good game as well, striking out four and only giving up four hits. The loss eliminated Brockport from the SUNYAC tournament.

The Golden Eagles finished with the regular season No. 2 seed in the SUNYAC with an overall record of 28-11-1.

They are the No. 2 seed in the ECAC Upstate championships and received a first-round bye.

They'll play the winner of the Alfred-Medaille game Sunday, May 10. All games will played at Union College in Schenectady, N.Y.

Brockport will lose senior infielders Maxon, Wood, catcher Szymanski, and Tarah Wetherby, but will retain the majority of their lineup. It is beyond questionable doubt to say Brockport will be back next year.