Golden Eagles lose both games of doubleheader
- Victor Menendez
- 11 minutes ago
- 3 min read
By: Victor Menendez
BROCKPORT, N.Y. -- Brockport Golden Eagles softball lost both games of its doubleheader against the Utica Pioneers on Sunday. Utica won the first game 10-3 before coming back from down 5-0 to eventually win game two by a score of 13-8 in extras.
"We've got to figure it out," Golden Eagles head coach Mary Karen Wheat said. "It's on them. Tough games; Utica came out and did their job and never stopped fighting. They're tough losses."
A four-run top of the first inning from the Pioneers gave Utica starter Kylie Murray all the support she needed to win this game. Murray, coming off a no-hitter vs. Geneseo on Saturday threw a complete game, going the full seven innings, giving up just two earned runs and striking out six.
Murray also had a successful day at the plate in game one, going three-for-four with a run scored and an RBI.
Brockport starter Colleen Davis lasted four innings, giving up seven hits and five runs while striking out two.
The Golden Eagles tried to mount a late-game comeback, making it a 6-3 game going into the seventh inning. But Utica would take advantage of a seemingly exhausted Hadley Alguire in relief of Davis, scoring four runs on two walks and two wild pitches given up by Davis.
The second game started off far better for Brockport as after Golden Eagles starter Fiona Gibiser sat the Pioneers down 1-2-3 in the top of the first, Brockport would mount a five-run bottom half, helped by a dropped fly ball by Utica left fielder Taylor Kraft with the bases loaded.
From the bottom half of the first inning to the top half of the fourth, each half inning saw at least one run come across the plate, bringing the score to 8-7 in favor of Brockport.
With Davis again on the mound for the Golden Eagles, this time in relief in game two, the Pioneers tied the game in the top of the sixth on a two-out single from Abigail Sacks.
Utica reliever Kelly Thornton shut the Golden Eagles offense down in relief of starter Maggie Habernig who allowed seven runs in two innings. Thornton went six innings, allowing just one run, and picking up the win for the Pioneers.
"We were just trying to adjust to her changeup," Wheat said. "She threw a really good changeup and we were struggling to make that adjustment."
As the game moved to extra innings, the Golden Eagles defense started to crack as four straight singles and some missed outs from Golden Eagles shortstop Natalie Faas led to a five-run eighth for the Pioneers.
Brockport did load the bases in the bottom half of the inning, bringing the tying run to the on-deck circle. But with two outs, Paige Wentland hit a ball to the left-center gap that was caught with a dive from Utica centerfielder Meghan Paul to close out the game.
Despite getting out at the end of the game, it was a great day for Wentland at the plate who went six-for-nine in the two games with three RBI.
"So proud of her," Wheat said. "She's been working really hard in the cages to get some timing down and the biggest thing is she's not looking for pretty hits, she's just looking to get on and if you keep with that mentality, you're going to do well."
With the two losses, the Golden Eagles fall to 10-13 on the year and 2-7 in conference play. They sit in ninth place in the E8 standings. Utica improves to 5-1 in conference play with the win and moves up to fourth in the E8 standings.
The Golden Eagles next game will be tomorrow against Elmira as they'll continue a game that was suspended from March 29.
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