NEW PALTZ, NY- The New Paltz baseball team split with the Seahawks of Briarcliffe in a 4-3 (8 innings) loss and a 7-5 victory. The Hawks are now 11-6 on the season.
The Hawks got on the board in the bottom half of the first inning when Paul Merola drove Joel Judson in with a single to left field. Briarcliffe put up two runs in the top of the third and one run in the top of the fourth establishing a 3-1 lead.
Senior slugger Clinton Boettcher hit his fourth home run of the season by sending a towering shot over the right field fence scoring Merola who walked to tie the ball game.
The Hawks went into extra innings as the game was tied at three a piece. Briarcliffe strung some hits together in the top half of the eighth as Sam Braverman led the inning off with a double and then Joe Solomeno followed with a RBI single which scored Braverman. The Hawks got out of the inning after allowing one run on two hits and an error.
The Hawks all hit the ball hard in the bottom of the eighth. Judson led off and hit a liner directly at the right fielder who made the play. Thomas Pinnola followed the pattern and did the same. Merola pulled one to the right side and was robbed of a base hit as Briarcliffe's second basemen dove to his left and made the throw ending the contest.
Sophomore Chris Paulicelli was 1-for-2, and Merola, Mike Sherlock, and Boettcher were all 1-for-3. Boettcher hit his fourth homer of the season and provided two RBI, Merola hit in his 14th RBI of the season.
Michael Pinnola got the loss on the mound pitching eight innings, allowing four runs on six hits, and four strikeouts.
In the nightcap, the Hawks scored four runs in the bottom of the fourth to seal the win.
Briarcliffe jumped out to an early lead by scoring three runs in the first. In the bottom half of the inning, Dylan Franco singled and then stole second and Paul Merola hit a single advancing Franco to third. Clinton Boettcher hit a sacrifice fly to score Franco, Matt O'Neill had a base hit and advanced Merola to third. Steve Pinckney hit an RBI single to put the Hawks within one.
The Seahawks put up a threat by putting two more runs up in the third inning. The Hawks were aggressive at the plate and would prevail. Pinckney singled to lead off the inning and then stole second. Thomas Pinnola walked and then Joel Judson hit an RBI single scoring Pinckney. Franco would then come to the plate with runners on first and third and came up clutch as he hit his first collegiate homerun over the left field fence giving the Hawks a 6-5 lead.
Freshman right-hander Kyle Ochuizzo came in to toss in the fifth for the Hawks and got the job done earning his second save of the season. Ochuizzo pitched two innings, allowing one hit and no runs.
Brett Harrison earned his second win on the mound for the Hawks pitching five innings allowing five runs on eight hits and struck out three.
The Hawks offense was provided by Pinckney who finished a perfect 3-for-3 from the plate with one RBI. Franco finished 2-for-4 with his first collegiate long ball and three RBI. And Merola and O'Neill both were 2-for-4 from the plate with one run scored.
The Hawks return to the diamond Tuesday when they travel to Kings College in Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania. First pitch is set for 4 p.m.
