NEW PALTZ, NY- The New Paltz baseball team fell to the visiting Red Dragons from Cortland State this afternoon on Loren Campbell Field by the scores of 16-7 and 10-4. The Hawks fall to 15-11 overall and 2-3 in the SUNYAC and Cortland improves to 24-6 overall and 8-0 in the SUNYAC.
In game one, the Hawks jumped out quickly in the bottom of the first with two runs. Paul Merola walked with one-out and Joel Judson doubled into the left center field gap scoring Merola from first base. Clinton Boettcher followed with a single, moving Judson to third on the play. After a strike out, Steve Pinckney blooped a single over the third baseman's head scoring Judson from third for the early 2-0 lead.
The Red Dragons got one back in the second when Jason Simone hit his second homerun of the year to left field. Cortland would score four in the third, three in the fourth and fifth, two in the sixth and three in the seventh.
The Hawks scored in back-to-back innings in the fifth and sixth. In the fifth, Mike Sherlock led the inning off with a single and then advanced to second on a throwing error by the pitcher. After a strike out, Merola would drive home Sherlock on an RBI single to left field. One batter later, Merola would swipe his third stolen base of the year and would score on a Boettcher RBI single up the middle.
In the sixth, Philip Parker drew a five pitch walk and Nick Monaco walked on five pitches to start the inning off. On the next pitch, Sherlock singled up the middle scoring Parker from second. After a pitching change, Monaco and Sherlock advanced on a wild pitch and Monaco would score on a Dylan Franco RBI groundout.
The Hawks tacked one more on in the eighth when Monaco scored on an error by the shortstop off the bat of Merola.
Boettcher was 2-for-5 and Sherlock was 2-for-3 with one run and one RBI for the Hawks.
Starter Michael Pinnola (2-4) recorded the loss on the mound, allowing 11 runs, three earned, on nine hits in five innings of work. Timmy Chelius pitched the final four innings and allowed five runs, three earned, on nine hits and struck out two.
Travis Ratliff (5-0) earned the win on the mound for the Red Dragons, pitching five innings and allowing six runs, six earned, on seven hits and striking out seven while walking five. Michael Mahay picked up the save, pitching the final four innings and allowing one run, zero earned, on two hits and striking out three.
In the nightcap, it was the Hawks again who jumped out to an early 2-0 lead with two runs in the first. Franco led off with a single and would score on Boettcher's RBI double to the left center field. Boettcher would come around and score on the next pitch as Thomas Pinnola singled up the middle.
Cortland would take a 3-2 lead with three runs in the third. Damon Arnold led the inning off with a single and Matt June followed with a double to left center field. Two batters later, Anderson Gardner drove home Arnold on sacrifice fly and Steve Nickel followed with an RBI single to right field.
The Red Dragons would extend their lead to 5-2 with two runs in the fifth. Nickel had a sacrifice fly and Simone had an RBI single up the middle.
The Hawks would get one back in the bottom of the inning when Matt O'Neill started the inning with a walk and advanced on a pass ball. Phil Riccio lined a shot up the middle scoring O'Neill from second to cut the lead to 5-3.
The Hawks really put the heat on in the seventh when O'Neill reached on an error. Riccio lined a shot into the left center field gap, but the left fielder made a great running catch to make the out. Sherlock followed with a single to left field and Merola would rip a shot up the middle scoring O'Neill to cut the lead to 5-4. After an intentional walk to Judson, Boettcher just got underneath one and flied out to shallow right field to end the inning.
Cortland would up their lead to 10-4 with four runs in the eighth and one in the ninth.
Merola finished 2-for-5 with an RBI and Riccio was 2-for-4 with an RBI. Pinnola was also 2-for-4 with an RBI and Franco, Sherlock, O'Neill and Boettcher all added a hit for the Hawks.
Starter Kyle Ochiuzzo recorded the loss on the mound, allowing nine runs, five earned on eight hits and struck out one in seven and two third innings. Tristan Greene pitched the final one and a third and allowed one run, zero earned, on two hits.
Adam Brown picked up the win for the Red Dragons, pitching six and a third and allowing four runs, four earned, on six hits and struck out five. Three relief pitchers combined for two and two third innings and allowing four hits for Cortland.
