Wisconsin Lutheran Box Score
Knox Box Score

FORT MYERS, Fla. – On its first day competing at the Gene Cusic Collegiate Classic in Fort Myers, Fla., on Saturday, the State University of New York at New Paltz baseball team (4-3) downed Wisconsin Lutheran College (4-5), 5-2, before knocking off Knox College (2-5), 10-1.

After two-and-a-half scoreless innings against the Warriors, the Hawks erupted for three runs in the bottom of the third. An error by the Wisconsin Lutheran third baseman extended the inning, and as a result, three unearned runs came across for New Paltz. The Warrior battery of Alex Raver and Tyler Schoen allowed two unearned runs in the fourth, as sophomore right fielder Thomas Pinnola (North Babylon, N.Y.) and junior first baseman Billy Ruggiero (East Northport, N.Y.) came around to score for the Hawks on a passed ball and a wild pitch, respectively.

Schoen spoiled New Paltz's shutout bid in the seventh, as he came home on an error to make it a 5-1 ballgame. In the ninth, the Warriors scored once off two hits, but it was not enough, as freshman pitcher Dylan Babcock (Vails Gate, N.Y.) struck out the final batter of the game to give the Hawks a 5-2 victory.

Sophomore pitcher Chris Chismar (Lindenhurst, N.Y.) drew the start on the mound for New Paltz, striking out nine batters and allowing just one hit in five scoreless innings of work. With the victory, Chismar moves to 2-0 on the year. Freshman pitcher Chris Pyz (Kings Park, N.Y.) tossed three innings in relief, yielding one run on one hit while striking out three, while Babcock threw the ninth inning and picked up the save.

Wisconsin Lutheran's Raver was the losing pitcher, throwing five innings while permitting five runs—one of which was earned—on five hits while striking out six. Josh Smith allowed just two hits in three scoreless frames of relief work.

Seven Hawks had a hit, and sophomore catcher Matt Kaldon (Montgomery, N.Y.) posted a game-high two RBI off a two-run double. For Wisconsin Lutheran, Justin Barkhurst and Schoen paced the attack. Each went 2-for-4 at the dish and scored a run.

New Paltz pounded out 18 hits and scored 10 runs against the Prairie Fire in the nightcap. The Hawks scored four runs in the first inning and one in the second to mount a 5-0 advantage. They then plated two in the fourth and three in the fifth to go up, 10-0. Knox broke up the shutout in the bottom of the seventh, scoring a run.

Freshman pitcher Mike Pastorino (Stormville, N.Y.) got the start on the mound for New Paltz, but he worked just two innings and did not gain a decision. He allowed one hit, walked three and struck out four. Senior pitcher Brett Harrison (Merrick, N.Y.) was credited with the win, yielding one hit and two walks while striking out five in four frames of duty. Sophomore pitcher Michael Pinnola (North Babylon, N.Y.), freshman pitcher James McKenna (Bohemia, N.Y.) and junior pitcher Nick Monaco (Medford, N.Y.) combined to give up one run on three hits in the final three innings of the ballgame.

Paul Mills shouldered the loss on the hill for the Prairie Fire, yielding seven runs on 10 hits. Gabe Ayers scattered three hits and allowed three runs in one inning of relief, while Zach Ricketts and Nikko Juarez silenced the New Paltz bats in the four final frames of the contest, holding the Hawks scoreless.

Freshman catcher David Lostaglio (Milton, N.Y.) led the Hawk offense, going 4-for-5 with three runs scored. Junior designated hitter Jake Cameron (Rockville Centre, N.Y.) went 3-for-5 with three runs scored and three RBI, while freshman left fielder Jimmy Briggs (Lindenhurst, N.Y.) went 3-for-6 with one RBI.

For Knox, no one had more than one hit, while Michael O'Connell had the team's lone RBI.

New Paltz continues play in the Gene Cusic Collegiate Classic tomorrow at 1 p.m., taking on Colby College.