PURCHASE, NY – Panther baseball split a non-conference doubleheader with SUNY Brockport on Saturday.
The series, also the home opener for Purchase, opened with a 10-6 victory for the host Panthers. Brockport rallied to take the win in game two, 14-3.
Game One: Purchase 10, Brockport 6
Purchase broke the scoring ice with two runs in the bottom of the first inning. Brockport answered back with a run in the top of the second before the Panthers fired in eight unanswered swipes over the next three innings to take a 10-1 lead.
Joshoa Ferro (JR/Richmond Hill, NY) ignited the Purchase run in the third with a homer over the left field wall. Leading 6-1, Purchase outfielder Jemal Betances (SO/Bronx, NY) batted in two runs with a single to left field. Purchase closed the scoring run with back-to-back sacrifice flyouts from James May (SO/Floral Park, NY) and John Fitzgerald (SR/Wantagh, NY), respectively.
The Brockport bats fell silent until the top of the sixth when a Ryan Voight double to right-center field brought Michael Spulnick around to score (10-2). With just one out remaining in the seventh, the Golden Eagles clawed back to narrow the Purchase advantage to just four runs (10-6), but the rally fell short as Skyler Ohrvall grounded out to third base with a 2-1 pitch count. Panther closer Michael Laskowski (JR/Floral Park, NY) recorded the final out to secure the win for the home team.
Purchase newcomer Ryan Kozersky (JR/Mount Kisco, NY) put in six innings of work on the mound en route to his first win of the season. The junior transfer retired 16 of the 24 batters he faced, including three strikeouts to move to 1-0 on the season. He gave up six hits, two runs (1 ER) and just one walk.
Game Two: Brockport 14, Purchase 3
In game two, Brockport jumped out early as Nicholas Pastore sacrificed to right field, bringing Tom Kretzler in to score (1-0).
The Golden Eagles stretched their advantage to 3-0 in the second, highlighted by a Justin Pangburn RBI double and a Kretzler sacrifice fly to left field.
The Brockport bats went to work again in the top of the fourth, pushing the visitors to a comfortable 5-0 lead.
The Panthers responded in the bottom half of the inning. With two outs on the board, Fitzgerald singled to left field and advanced to second on a
Matthew Mulligan (JR/Yaphank, NY) walk.
Matthew Nilsen (JR/Bellmore, NY) followed with a single to right field to load the bases.
Gavin Brien (SR/Brooklyn, NY) then stepped up to the plate and smashed a perfectly placed ball down the right field line for a 2-RBI single.
Purchase chipped away with another run in the fifth off a Ferro single to right center, but the 3-0 rally would soon come to an end as the Panthers went scoreless the rest of the way. The Golden Eagle offense however, continued to ignite. The visitors collected two runs in the sixth and recorded a notable seven swipes in the seventh en route to the 14-3 win.
Andrew Huffman (1-0) picked up the win for Brockport, tallying seven strikeouts over five innings of work.
CJ Owens (SR/Ridge, NY) (0-2) took the loss for Purchase, pitching four innings, and allowing five runs (3 ER) on seven hits.
Up Next
The Panthers return to their home diamond tomorrow to play host to the Warriors of Eastern Connecticut State University. First pitch of the non-conference twin bill is set for 11 a.m.
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