Plattsburgh, NY — The State University of New York at New Paltz baseball team fought to come back after losing a six-run lead to capture a late, 11-9 win in game one over hosting Plattsburgh Tuesday. However despite 10 strikeouts from ace Anthony Amoroso, the Hawks couldn't capture the series sweep and fell in game two, 4-2.
 
SUNY New Paltz (5-9 overall, 3-9 SUNYAC) scored in the first three innings to take a 6-0 lead into the bottom of the sixth in the first of two games against the Cardinals (4-10, 3-7). Plattsburgh fought back to 6-4 in the bottom of the sixth. Matthew McGee, Nick Harvey and Justin Harvey saved a run in the inning, as a tight throw at the plate secured the second out of the inning, but that didn't stop the Cardinals from plating two more before going into the seventh.
 
Plattsburgh tied up the game in the seventh. The hosts opened up with a base hit, hit-by-pitch and then a bunt single to load the bases. A fielders choice scored the first run and then a ball in the dirt, miss-handled by Justin Harvey at catcher allowed the runner at third to steal home on another close play at the plate. Bobby Ramsey eventually got out of the inning for the Hawks, leaving the bases loaded and the score tied at six. 
SUNY New Paltz responded in the eighth, as Justin Oritz plated Michael Boccarossa who led off the inning with a single to right. Ryan Geraghty gave the Hawks a two-run advantage with an RBI single to bring home Justin Harvey, but SUNY New Paltz couldn't open the game further. It had the bases loaded with one out, but the Cardinals managed the next two outs with a foul out and ground out to keep the score at 8-6, which they got back in the next half inning.
 
Plattsburgh took a 9-8 lead into the ninth, but again the Hawks rallied. An error at third kick-started the inning and put McGee on with no outs. Boccarossa was hit by a pitch on the next at-bat and Justin Harvey moved them over on a sacrifice bunt. Two fielder's choice later, Geraghty came up clutch once again for his team. The senior knocked a two-out double to right field and plated Matt Laurelli and Justin Ortiz to give his team an 11-9 lead.
 
SUNY New Paltz hung on from there, as James Trink came into pitch the ninth and got three-straight outs to end the game.
 
After trailing by one in the bottom of the first in game two, the Hawks regained the lead in the top of the third. Matt Laurelli helped get the scoring going with a solo home run to left. Geraghty came through again and plated Ortiz, who got on following a single to left, with a ground out.
 
SUNY New Paltz added one more in sixth, but the insurance run wasn't enough to stop a Cardinal rally in the bottom half of the inning. Plattsburgh opened up the sixth with a double and then advanced its runner on a wild pitch. Two batters later the Cardinals brought one of their three runners of the inning home. Amoroso got two outs in the inning still holding a 3-2 lead, but Plattsburgh answered with a two RBI double and regained control. The Hawks offense couldn't answer in the last half inning and in turn suffered the tough 4-3 loss.
 
Amoroso pitched all six innings, gave up just seven hits on four earned runs with two walks and registered a career-high 10 strikeouts in the loss.
 
SUNY New Paltz is back in action Wednesday when it travels for a midweek non-conference doubleheader against SUNY Cobleskill starting at noon.
 
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