Box Score (Game 1)
Box Score (Game 2)

FREDONIA, N.Y. – Pitching prevailed in a State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) doubleheader Friday afternoon at Ludwig Field, as the State University of New York at New Paltz baseball team (17-13, 7-6 SUNYAC) split with SUNY Fredonia (14-16, 2-12 SUNYAC). The Blue Devils won, 3-0, in game one, while the Hawks triumphed by a count of 1-0 in game two.

The setback in the front end of the twinbill snapped a six-game win streak for New Paltz, which dated back to a 5-2 victory over SUNY Oneonta on April 10.

The doubleheader, which occurred on Friday instead of Saturday, featured a nine-inning contest followed by a seven-inning contest.

A Vinnie VanAuker double eventually led to a run for Fredonia in the fifth inning of game one, and two consecutive walks in the bottom of the sixth set the stage for a Joe Kephart two-run single.

The Hawks loaded the bags in the seventh. Junior designated hitter Billy Ruggiero (East Northport, N.Y.) walked, junior shortstop Paul Merola (Cornwall-on-Hudson, N.Y.) singled and junior second baseman Chris Paulicelli (Lindenhurst, N.Y.) walked, bringing the potential go-ahead run to the plate. After Fredonia made a pitching change—Andy Dlugosz was put on the mound in favor of Jordan Hibbard—sophomore right fielder Thomas Pinnola (North Babylon, N.Y.) grounded into a fielder's choice to end the inning.

New Paltz left two men stranded in the eighth and was unable to answer in the ninth, as the Blue Devils retired the Hawks in order to end the game.

Both teams combined for just nine hits in game one, and the two squads received masterful performances from their hurlers.

Freshman pitcher Andrew Grann (Oceanside, N.Y.) gave up three runs off five hits and five walks to go along with his game-high six strikeouts. He was tagged with the loss, working an eight-inning complete game.

For Fredonia, Hibbart was the winning pitcher, scattering three hits across 6 2/3 innings of work, while Dlugosz picked up the save, giving up one hit in 2 1/3 frames of duty.

Merola paced the Hawk attack in the front end of the doubleheader, going 2-for-4. Five Blue Devils recorded a hit, with VanAuker's double being the lone extra-base knock of the ballgame.

The tables tilted in game two, as sophomore pitcher Chris Chismar (Lindenhurst, N.Y.) threw a complete-game shutout. Chismar fanned 12 batters in seven innings, giving up just two hits and four walks all game.

After the two sides posted zeroes on the scoreboard for six full innings, New Paltz scored in the seventh. Junior right fielder Mike Sherlock (Liverpool, N.Y.) was hit by a pitch, and senior second baseman Dylan Franco (Croton-on-Hudson, N.Y.) walked, putting runners on first and second with one out. Merola singled to load the bags, and after the second out was recorded, Pinnola was plunked by a pitch, plating Sherlock for the game-winning run. Chismar struck out two in the bottom of the seventh before forcing a fly out to center to end the game.

Matt Sullivan shouldered the loss on the hill for Fredonia, going 6 2/3 innings. He gave up one run off five hits, one walk and two hit by pitches in addition to notching four strikeouts.

Offensively for the Hawks, Merola and junior third baseman Mike Marash (Cortlandt Manor, N.Y.) each went 2-for-4, while two Blue Devil hitters tallied a hit.

The two teams will close out the league series tomorrow at noon in Fredonia, N.Y., with a nine-inning contest.