Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Aurburndale, FL – The State University of New York at New Paltz baseball team had productive days on the mound Saturday in its double-header against Fredonia State. Unfortunately, the Hawks (3-3 overall, 0-3 SUNYAC) made too many errors in the field and couldn't generate enough offense to keep the Blue Devils (9-5, 3-0) from sweeping the State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) three-game series, losing both outings Saturday, 5-3 and 4-3, respectively.

"We learned that we need to continue to focus on the details of playing winning baseball," said SUNY New Paltz coach Thomas Seay. "To have competitive at-bats throughout the game and to protect the baseball defensively. If we can work to get a little better each day and to learn to play entire games we can put ourselves in position to compete at the end of the year."

After a lopsided loss Friday to kick off their Florida trip and their first conference series of the season, the Hawks put themselves in position to win both games Saturday.

Justin Stybel earned the start in the first game of the day, giving up just three hits in 4.2 innings pitched with three strikeouts and two walks. He held the Blue Devils scoreless until the bottom of the third inning when Nicolas Fiore pushed two runs across after a fielding error on a fielder's choice to short. William Clifford stepped up to the plate next and knocked a two RBI single to score two more for Fredonia.

The Blue Devils tacked on another run in the fifth inning off an RBI single by Kevin Yirinec. John LoCurto then relieved Stybell and pitched the rest of the way, giving up three hits with three strikeouts. 

Ryan Frost helped give the Hawks the initial lead in the top of the second inning, plating Danny Campbell, who hit a one-out double to put himself in scoring position. SUNY New Paltz came back in the sixth to close the gap after Fredonia took the lead in the third inning.

Campbell got the rally going, earning a two-out walk to get on base. John McCarrick followed with a single to advance Campbell and Frost came through at the plate again with an RBI single to bring Campbell home. Reid Oreste drew a walk to load the bases, which led to McCarrick coming home for another run after a wild pitch on the ensuing at-bat.

"Danny Campbell continues to come up with big hits in the clutch for us and is putting together a really good start to his campaign," said Seay of the senior outfielder.

Down just two runs in the top of the seventh, the Hawks had an opportunity to rally, but couldn't capitalize. Julian Francisco got on base after getting hit by a pitch with one out, but Matthew McGee hit into a double play to end the game at 5-3 in favor of the Blue Devils. Delio earned the start in game two and delivered a five-hit outing, while giving up just one run with three strikeouts and a walk in 5.1 innings pitched. He received some run support in the top of the sixth inning thanks to an RBI single by McGee, which brought Francisco home and tied the game at one.

McGee then stole second to put himself in scoring position with Justin Ganca up at the plate. The senior took advantage with a runner on, knocking an RBI double to give SUNY New Paltz a 2-1 lead.

David Juechter extended the Hawks' cushion in the top of seventh, picking up an RBI single to plate McCarrick, but Fredonia regained the advantage in the bottom of the inning. James Magnuson, who relieved Delio with one out in the sixth, stayed in to pitch the last three innings.

Kole Brink led off the inning for Fredonia and got on base after another error at short. After a fielder's choice registered the first out of the inning, Fiore stepped up and registered a base knock, putting runners on first and second. Tyler Phillips brought one run home on an RBI single and then put himself in scoring position after stealing second in the ensuing at-bat. An RBI ground out brought Fiore home and another base hit platted Phillips to push the Blue Devils ahead, 4-3. SUNY New Paltz went three-and-out in the last two innings to suffer its third-straight loss.

"We got two really quality starts from our two starters in Stybel and Delio accompanied with really good effort out of the bullpen," Seay said. "Our pitching staff definitely gave us a chance to win today, but defensively we were not clean enough and made too many costly mistakes that gave Fredonia extra opportunities to score runs. Add that to the fact we can't seem to get going offensively, so it is disappointing to put ourselves in a position to win a game or two and come up short."

Campbell led the Hawks offensively, going 2-for-5 with two doubles, two walks and two runs scored in the two games. McGee followed, finishing 3-for-8 at the plate with an RBI, a run and a stolen base.

"I told them we need to start playing like Kobe and less like LeBron," added Seay of what he said to his team after the two losses. "I want the competitive killer instinct over the flash skill set. Competitors find ways to win."

SUNY New Paltz has the opportunity to bounce back with two games on the docket for Sunday. The Hawks are set to take on Endicott College at 1:45 p.m. and New York University at 5:15 p.m. at Lake Myrtle Park. 

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