Box Score

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. – The State University of New York at New Paltz baseball team (2-3) lost in a non-conference single game to the College of Staten Island (2-6) on Tuesday afternoon, falling, 6-3, to the Dolphins at the CSI Baseball Complex.

Sophomore catcher Matt Kaldon (Montgomery, N.Y.) plated freshman designated hitter Jimmy Briggs (Lindenhurst, N.Y.) in the top of the first, but the Dolphins responded with a run of their own in the home half of the frame. Staten Island pushed two across in the second and one more in the third, building a 4-1 advantage through three innings of play. The Dolphins broke the game open in the bottom of the fourth, scoring twice to go on top, 6-1.

An error-plagued sixth allowed both Kaldon and sophomore third baseman Matt Prescia (Oakdale, N.Y.) to score, and New Paltz made it a three-run ballgame. Both pitching staffs took over down the stretch, as both teams combined for no runs on three hits total from the bottom of the sixth on.

Junior shortstop Paul Merola (Cornwall-on-Hudson, N.Y.) and Briggs each went 2-for-5, while junior first baseman Billy Ruggiero (East Northport, N.Y.) went 2-for-3 to pace the New Paltz attack.

Staten Island was led by Joseph Falcone, who went 3-for-5 with one RBI and one run scored.

Junior pitcher Timmy Chelius (Rockville Centre, N.Y.) drew the start on the mound for the Hawks, working three innings while giving up four runs on six hits. After being tagged with the loss, he dropped to 0-1 on the year. Freshman pitcher Andrew Grann (Oceanside, N.Y.) came in and pitched three innings in relief, yielding two runs and scattering four hits, while senior pitcher Brett Harrison (Merrick, N.Y.) and freshman pitcher Chris Pyz (Kings Park, N.Y.) held the Dolphins both hitless and scoreless in two combined innings of relief work.

Pat Gale earned the win on the hill for Staten Island, allowing three runs—two of which were earned—on five hits in six innings of duty while striking out 12. Mike Van Pelt was credited with the save, giving up just two hits in three frames of work.

New Paltz travels to Fort Myers, Fla., later this week for the Gene Cusic Collegiate Classic. On Saturday, March 19, the Hawks take on Wisconsin Lutheran College at 11 a.m. before squaring off with Knox College at 2 p.m.