Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – Dramatic games ruled the day, as the State University of New York at New Paltz baseball team split its State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) games against SUNY Plattsburgh on Saturday, winning the opener 4-3 in extra innings, but fell in the nightcap, 3-2.
 
The Hawks won the first game in frenetic fashion, scoring the winning run on a wild pitch. In the second game, New Paltz trailed 3-1 heading into the ninth inning and got within 3-2 when the comeback stalled. None of the two games featured an inning where more than one run was scored.
 
The Hawks, 14-18, 6-10 SUNYAC, have a make-up doubleheader against SUNY Oneonta left on the conference schedule, and will return home on Saturday, April 26 with a non-conference doubleheader against Ithaca College at 1 p.m. Plattsburgh, 9-19, 4-10, heads to Lyndon State College for a 3 p.m. game on Tuesday, April 22. The Cardinals resume SUNYAC play on Friday, April 25 against Oswego State.
 
Game One
Although out-hit 13-9 in the game, the Hawks manufactured the winning run in an extra inning affair that was scheduled for seven innings but went nine. In the top of the ninth, junior Richard Guido (Ulster Park, N.Y./Kingston) scampered home following a wild pitch for the winning tally. Senior Steven Morse (East Northport, N.Y./Commack) had previously laced a single to right field that pushed Guido to third base. Guido had earlier reached base on a fielder's choice.
 
The game was tied 2-2 through four innings, but the Hawks punched home the go-ahead run in the top of the fifth when a single by sophomore Tyler Bell (West Islip, N.Y./West Islip) drove home Guido, who worked out a six-pitch walk. Plattsburgh forced extra innings and tied the contest 3-3 in its last at-bat. With runners on second and third, freshman Jeremy Rodriguez bounced into a double play, but it was enough to bring home junior Nicholas Lupo, who started off the inning by reaching base on an error.

Morsen, Bell and junior Shaun Hansen (Southold, N.Y./Greenport) each had two his for the Hawks.
 
The Hawks used an arsenal of seven pitchers against the Cardinals.. Freshman Luke Schuessler (Highland Mills, N.Y./Monroe-Woodbury) earned his first victory of the season, going 2.1 innings in relief and allowing two hits. Sophomore Christian Huertas (Bronx, N.Y./Archbishop Stepinac) earned his third save. Plattsburgh State junior JD Jenkins went the distance the Cardinals, allowing four runs in nine innings with two walks and four strikeouts.

Game Two
The Hawks jumped out to a 1-0 lead after the first inning, initiated by a lead off double by freshman Robert Fitzpatrick (Massapequa, N.Y./Massapequa). Senior Andrew Grann (Oceanside, N.Y./Oceanside) pinch ran for Fitzpatrick and was brought home by Bell's single through the left..
 
The New Paltz bats would be quieted over the next seven innings, as Plattsburgh junior Will Flynn settled into a grove that would eventually earn him his second win the season. Flynn allowed seven hits and needed ninth inning relief work from sophomore Yuya Osawa, who earned his second save this season.
 
Osawa drove home Plattsburgh's first run in the third inning and the Cardinals tacked on single runs in the fifth and eighth innings. Their final tally, and game-winning run, came when senior John Casten delivered a ground out in a pinch-hitting role, but it was enough to drive home junior pinch runner Shunsuke Sugimoto for a 3-1 lead.
 
Bell and senior David Lostaglio (Milton, N.Y./Marlborough Central), each had two hits.  New Paltz starter Huertas, threw well coming off his relief appearance in game one, but suffered the loss. He went seven innings, allowing 11 hits, with two strikeouts.