COCOA, FL- The New Paltz baseball team split a doubleheader with nationally ranked #5 Salisbury University Tuesday afternoon in the 25th Annual Expo Sports College Baseball Spring Training. The Hawks defeated the Seagulls in the first game, 6-3 behind a solid pitching performance from senior Joel Judson. In the nightcap, the Seagulls were able to manage a split with a 4-1 victory over the Hawks. The Hawks continue to play well this season, upping their record to 3-2 and return to action tomorrow at 9 a.m. against Richard Stockton in a doubleheader.
Box Score (Game 1)
Box Score (Game 2)
In the second inning of the first game, the Hawks struck first when Philip Parker drove home Chris Paulicelli from third after leading the inning off with a walk and advancing to second on a wild pitch. Paulicelli moved up to third on an error by the Seagulls shortstop, off the bat of Michael Marash. Marash would later score on an RBI groundout by Judson to give the Hawks an early 2-0 advantage.
Salisbury would get one back in the top half of the fourth when Andrew Miller scored on an error by the Hawks, off the bat of Ryan Smith.
In the bottom half of the fifth, the Hawks opened up the game with four runs. Parker led the inning off with a single and advanced to third on another error by the Seagulls shortstop, off the bat of Mike Sherlock. Paul Merola collected his first run batted in of the year on a single that drove home Parker. The very next batter, Clinton Boettcher ripped a two-run double, scoring Sherlock and Merola. It was Boettcher's first double of the year and his fourth and fifth run batted in of the year. #Clinton Boettcher# later scored after advancing to third on a wild pitch and the third error of the game by the Seagulls shortstop, off the bat of Steve Pinckney, giving the Hawks a 6-1 lead.
Brian Green brought the Seagulls within three at 6-3 on a two-run single in the top of the sixth, scoring Chad Wolfe and Tim Kellinger.
Boettcher finished 1-for-2 with a run scored and two runs batted in and Parker was perfect going 2-for-2 with a run and a run batted in. Judson pitched a gem, allowing three runs (two earned) on three hits and striking out seven and only one walk, for his first career complete game. Salisbury managed only to hit .120 (3-25) in the game off Judson.
Pinch hitter Chad Wolfe was 1-for-1 and a run scored and Brian Green and Will Evans each were 1-for-3 on the day, including two runs batted in by Green. Kyle Judson took the loss on the mound for the Seagulls, allowing six runs (four earned) on four hits, striking our four and walking three.
In the nightcap, it was Salisbury who took the early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Andrew Miller singled to lead off the inning and followed by stealing second and advancing to third on a groundout by Tim Kellinger. Mike Celenza would drive home Miller on an RBI groundout.
The Hawks tied the score in the top of the third when Parker ripped his first double of the year and would later score on an error by the Seagulls shortstop.
The Seagulls would add insurance runs in the fifth and sixth. In the fifth, the Seagulls got two runs on homeruns by Brian Green and Andrew Miller. In the sixth, Ryan Smith added an RBI single that scored Celenza from third after he walked to lead the inning off.
Parker, O'Neill and Marash all added one hit for the Hawks and Parker had a run scored. Brett Harrison allowed four hits and two walks, struck out one and gave up four runs, four earned, in five innings. Thomas Pinnola made his collegiate debut, allowing one hit in one inning of work for the Hawks.
Miller finished 2-for-2 with two runs scored and one run batted in and Smith was 2-for-3 with a run batted in. Nathan Young pitched a three hit complete game for the Seagulls, allowing one run, no earned, striking out 11 and walking two. The Seagulls are now 10-2 on the season.
