Box Score Cortland, NY – The State University of New York at New Paltz baseball team dropped its opening round playoff game to Oswego State, 4-3. After tying the game at three in the top of the sixth, the Hawks were unable to force the game into extra innings and the Lakers hit a walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth.
 
Both teams left two runners stranded through the first three innings, but in the top of the fourth SUNY New Paltz finally broke through. Senior first baseman Chris Moran battled at the plate and drew a walk to start the rally with one out. Two batters later senior catcher Dwayne Page hit a tough ground ball that the shortstop was unable to handle to bring up Brian Brenton with two runners on and two outs. Brenton was able to turn on the pitch with and drive the ball down the left field line for a double to score Moran from second and take a 1-0 lead.
 
Freshman third baseman John McCarrick was filling in for the injured Jake Williams and came up with another tough ground ball to shortstop and Page was able to score from third to take a two-run lead.
 
"That fourth inning was big for us," said head coach Arlan Freeman. "Brian has had big hits for us all year and today he made a nice adjustment after his first at-bat to come up with that double. For us to make a run at this he's going to need to keep coming up with clutch hitting.
 
However, the Lakers were finally able to get to junior right-handed pitcher Justin Stybel and put up two runs of their own. Oswego State was threatening to put up a big inning, but a heads up play by McCarrick at third base forced the runner on second base into a run down and the Hawks were able to minimize the damage.
 
In the bottom of the fifth the Lakers led off with a home run and then continued to put runners on base, but Stybel battled on the mound and stranded two runners to keep it a one run game.
 
"Stybel pitched great," said Freeman. "He gave us a chance to win and I was proud of the way he battled out there."
 
Page led off with a hard hit single up the middle to start the top of the sixth, and after Brenton advanced him to third McCarrick stepped up to the plate. The freshman came up big and delivered an opposite field single to score Page from second base and tie the game.
 
"I've been very impressed with McCarrick so far," said Freeman. "As a freshman to come up with the plays he had today is very promising."
 
Freeman turned to junior right-handed pitcher Ryan Votypka in the bottom of the sixth and the Kings Park, NY native began to dominate on the mound. Votypka retired six straight batters before finally letting up a single in the bottom of the eighth.
 
SUNY New Paltz entered the ninth inning with a lot of energy in the dugout, but they were unable to convert that energy into hits and left the score tied at three.
 
The Lakers took advantage and the lead-off batter homered to left field to end the Hawks hope of winning their first playoff game since 2001.
 
"I was really proud of the energy our guys brought to the field today," said Freeman. "It was an unfortunate end to the game but were confident we can return to the field tomorrow and win two games to get into the championship."
 
SUNY New Paltz takes on the College at Brockport tomorrow at 10 a.m. The winner will face the loser of the semifinal game between No. 7 SUNY Cortland and Oswego State.

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