HOUGHTON, NY— The Houghton Highlanders left nine runners stranded and allowed three unearned runs as they fell in non-conference action on Wednesday to the College at Brockport Golden Eagles, 4-1.
 
The Golden Eagles picked up all the runs they would need in the first inning as the Highlanders made three errors on the first two plays of the game, eventually taking a 2-0 lead in the first.
 
Houghton put runners on in each of the first two innings, including a lead-off triple to right-center by Caleb Philips in the top of the second, but could not push a run across.
 
The Highlanders eventually cut the deficit to one in the bottom of the fifth when Whitney Cook tripled to right-center, scoring Jeremy Newswanger.
 
Meanwhile, Philips stymied the Brockport bats until the top of the sixth, when he gave up his lone earned run, a solo homerun by Golden Eagles' cleanup hitter, Tony Kretzler.
 
Brockport would add another run in the seventh after a failed pickoff put a man on third and a single up the middle scored the final run of the game.
 
Houghton threatened in the seventh, but left two runners on, then loaded the bases in the ninth before a lineout ended the game.
 
GAME VITALS                           
Score: Brockport - 4 | Houghton - 1
Records: Brockport: 4-3 | Houghton: 3-8
Venue: Kerr-Pegula Athletic Complex Baseball Field | Attendance: 75
 
KEY STATS:
>> Philips tossed six innings, allowing five hits and two walks while striking out two.  He has now allowed only two earned runs in his last 13 innings of work.
 
>> Griffin Tubbs allowed one unearned run in two innings of work, and Aaron Monroe tossed a scoreless ninth to round out the pitching for the Highlanders.
 
>> Brockport outhit the Highlanders, 10-4, but left only four runners stranded while Houghton left nine men on base.
 
>> Liam O'Leary led the Brockport offense with three hits, while Cooper Meldrim picked up the win on the mound, tossing 4.2 innings, striking out five and allowing four hits and one walk.
 
COACH'S CORNER:
"While we didn't hit, this was still a game we could have won.  We had excellent pitching performances and, with a few notable exceptions, we played some pretty impressive defense.  David Wessells made a couple of outstanding catches in center and Jeremy Newswanger was solid all day.
 
"What we didn't have was timely hitting, we didn't execute in a couple of key situations, and obviously our defensive miscues really cost us.
 
"Give credit to Brockport; Coach Beach prepares his guys well.  They took advantage of some of our inexperience early on, they played solid defense, and they pitched themselves out of several jams.
 
"From the beginning of the fall we've told our guys that we would have to win close games; we would have to manufacture runs and execute well.  As long as our pitching continues to keep us in games, sooner or later we'll find the win column.  Tomorrow is another day to get better." –Coach Brian Reitnour
  
UP NEXT:
Houghton will host a doubleheader on Friday against the Hilbert Hawks.  Game One is slated for 3:00 p.m.