A pair of non-conference wins is exactly what the State University of New York at New Paltz baseball team needs, as the Hawks look to bounce back from their weekend sweep when they take on Rowan University Tuesday and Stevens Institute of Technology Wednesday.

"Coach tells us every game just to go 1-0 and start off 1-0 everyday," said SUNY New Paltz senior pitcher James Magnuson. "I think at this point we're basically in survival mode, and we have the capability to play our best baseball with our backs against the wall. These stressful games can sometimes bring out the best in teams, and I think we have a resilient squad that can pull through." 

Playing it's worst stretch of baseball in the last few years, the Hawks hope to take wins from two programs they have never beaten. SUNY New Paltz has played Rowan University and Stevens Institute of Technology every year since 2017, losing to the Owls and Ducks both 3-0 that year and again 5-4 and 6-0 in 2018, respectively.

A powerhouse program in recent years, Rowan University currently sits at 12-5 on the year, with a 1-1 record in the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC). The Owls ended their season in the NCAA regional last year, and started 2019 with a 25-3 routing of Stevens Institute of Technology.

The Ducks from Stevens were 26-17 last season, losing twice in the Empire 8 conference tournament to end their season. In 2019, Stevens Institute of Technology sits at 9-11 overall, but is pacing itself thoroughly in conference play at 6-2. The Ducks are also 0-5 on the road, and will have to travel upstate Wednesday for an already tough matchup with a hungry opponent in the Hawks.

"Rowan and Stevens are two great programs, and we're just looking to play our game," said SUNY New Paltz sophomore outfielder David Juechter. "Everyone is that guy [on our team], and everyone needs to have the confidence to know that they're that guy to get the job done."

The Hawks take on Rowan University on the road Tuesday, playing the Owls at 4 p.m and will return Wednesday night for a home game against Stevens at 3:30 p.m. To stay up to date with everything #NPHawks be sure to follow us on Twitter at @nphawks, Instagram and Facebook at @newpaltzhawks, and subscribe to our Youtube channel, New Paltz Hawks.