CARY, N.C.

    Game One: The aftermath of a winter storm left frigid temperatures for baseball on Saturday. The Pacers were staring at two more opportunities to get into the win column for the first time in 2025 as the first pitch was thrown in 22 degrees. In game one, the Pacers once again handed the ball to senior Jarret Hall, hoping for a bounce back performance from the veteran bullpen pitcher turned starter. Unfortunately for Pacer fans, Brockport continued a common theme of Pacer opponents this year, hanging a crooked number in the first frame of the day. 

    Brockport's 3 run first inning established a tone for the rest of game one. Brockport's offense can be broken down into two extremely efficient phases, patience at the plate, and timely extra base hits. Brockport added to the early lead with 2 more in the 3rd on a Zach Eldred two-run blast to left field. The two-way player also started on the mound for the Golden Eagles, striking out five Pacer batters in 3 quick innings. 

    Brockport would load the bases just one inning later in the 4th, knocking Hall out of the game. The debut of newcomer Tyler Deluzio was short lived as well as a walk and two Golden Eagle knocks got rid of the Pacer reliever. 

    Pitching Coach Jake Norris made the move to Derrick Collins with one in the fourth, and the sophomore provided the first sign of stability for WPU. Collins would go 2.2 innings without surrendering a run and striking out two batters. 

    However, Brockport would deliver the knockout punch in the 8th by hitting back-to-back homeruns. Veterans Zach Eldred and Jason Story both deposited baseball over the left field wall, and any air left the Pacer faithful was squeezed out. The late display of Brockport power sent the Pacers into their 4th straight loss of the season. 

Game Two: Senior Jack McIntosh took the mound for a Pacer squad that was already desperate for a win in game two of the double header. The right hander quickly found himself in the midst of a fire in the first inning. However, poise and experience led to the veteran getting out of the first, only allowing one scratch. 

    The Pacer offense was still staggering from their one hit performance in game one of the double header, yet they showed some life in the second as sophomore Leland Barrow singled up the middle. Although 4 Pacer batters reached base in the 2nd, not a run was scored. 

    Brockport doubled their lead after Jason Story singled in Frank Vanzillotta who had walked to start the inning. However, the Pacer offense would offer their first response of the day when Alex Levesque scored Gavin Turner on an RBI groundout. The roar from the Pacer crowd and dugout was warranted, as it was the first play to cheer all day. 

    The next 5 innings played out in a stalemate, as the tension built throughout the National Training Complex until the bottom of the seventh, when Griffin Sandstrum provided Pacer fans with the highlight of the day. The Senior utility player, who found himself in right field defensively in game two, crushed a double over the head of the left fielder, sending the Pacer crowd into a frenzy. 3 batters later, the Pacers took the lead on a sacrifice fly by Jake Cace.

    Finally, the taste of playing from ahead felt so sweet for Pacer fans, and with reliever Ethan Hummel retiring his last three batters faced, things were looking up in Cary. However, a Golden Eagle rally arose with one out in the top of the 8th and Brockport would score 4 heart breaking runs on a late string of hits. 

    The demoralizing 8th spelled doom once again for the Pacers, as they would go quietly in their at bats in the 8th and 9th. Despite a much improved effort in game two, the Pacers still fell to 0-5 in 2025. The Pacers look forward to another midweek challenge as ODAC team Guilford College strolls into the NTC on Wednesday, 2/26.