COCOA BEACH, FL- The New Paltz baseball team opened up the 2010 campaign with a 8-5 win over Nichols College this evening.  The Hawks are 1-0 on the season return to action tomorrow at 10 a.m. against Hilbert College.

The Hawks struck first in the bottom of the third inning when Philip Parker singled to right field and advanced to second on a throwing error by the right fielder.  Parker would score two batters later on a Mike Sherlock double.

Nichols responded in the fourth with a Austin Martin three-run homerun after Zachary Johnson led off the inning with a single followed by a double by John Micciche.  After a scoreless fourth by the Hawks, Nichols tacked on two more in the fifth after Micciche walked to start the inning and Martin drove him home on a RBI double.  Martin scored on the next hit when Chris Nemeskal singled him home.  Nichols took a 5-1 lead going into the bottom of the fifth.

The Hawks would take the lead in the fifth with five runs.  Michael Marash led the inning off with a doubled followed by a RBI triple by Parker to cut the lead to 5-2.  Joel Judson drove home Parker on a RBI single .  After a Mike Sherlock single, Clinton Boettcher gave the Hawks a 6-5 lead when Boettcher took Tim Smith deep for a three-run homerun. 

The Hawks tacked on two more insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth when Marash double scored Steve Pinckney from second after leading the inning off with a double.  Judson would later drive home Marash on his second RBI of the game.

Judson finished the game 3-for-5 with one run and two runs batted in and Sherlock was 2-for-4 with one run and one run batted in.  Boettcher was 1-for-3 with a three-run homerun and Marash was 2-for-4 with two doubles, two runs and a run batted in.  Parker added two hits with two runs, one run batted in and a triple.

Zachary Johnson was 2-for-5 and Austin Martin was 3-for-5 with a three-run homerun with four runs batted in.  Joshua Clark was 2-for-4 for Nichols.

Chris Chismar started the game for the Hawks going four and two third innings allowing five runs on seven hits and striking out three.  Pat Sylvester earned the win on the mound for the Hawks pitching one and one third inning.  Tristan Green pitched two innings allowing two hits and striking out one and received a hold.  Judson saved the game for the Hawks, pitching one inning striking out one and allowing one hit.

Tim Smith took the loss on the mound going five innings allowing eight runs on 12 hits and striking out three.  JC LeBarron went two innings allowing one hit and striking out two and Scott Leecock pitched a perfect eighth, striking out three.