The State University of New York at New Paltz has four games left of the 2021 season with a pivotal doubleheader Saturday against SUNY Oneonta.

The Hawks (3-7 overall, 4-10 SUNYAC) are two games behind the Red Dragons (5-5, 10-6) in the league standings, so a sweep is necessary to keep their playoffs hopes thriving enter their last series Wednesday against Plattsburgh.

"The Oneonta series [Saturday] is huge. It has a lot of playoff implications for not only us, but Oneonta, Plattsburgh's still in the mix, it could effect Brockport, so [Saturday's] two games have big ramifications on postseason seeding. [Saturday] is huge," said SUNY New Paltz coach Thomas Seay.

The Hawks and Oneonta played a tight two-game series at Loren Campbell Memorial Field earlier in the year April 13 with the Red Dragons taking game one, 7-6 in 12 Innings, but the Hawks came back and won game two, 4-3 thanks to a go-ahead two-run home run in the sixth inning by Nick Harvey.

Despite the split, the Hawks struggled in their next six games. They had a difficult task of facing Cortland on back-to-back days and were swept by the first place Red Dragons in both series and gave up 43 runs during that span, while scoring just six.

"Last time we played them the rivalry was strong," Harvey said. "We came out and was very excited to beat them. [Saturday] we need to get two wins against them, so I'm very excited to play them."

SUNY New Paltz broke up the four-game skid with a game one win on the road at Plattsburgh, coming back after giving up a six-run lead to win, 11-9, but the offense fizzled from there and the team couldn't take advantage from a career-high 10 strikeouts by ace Anthony Amoroso and lost the second game, 4-3 on a go-ahead two-RBI double in the sixth. 
The Hawks bounced back in a big way Wednesday, going on the road for a non-conference doubleheader at SUNY Cobleskill. The bats picked up and registered 31 runs and 31 hits in a dominant performance. They took game one, 18-9, backed by a historical 13 total stolen bases – freshman Justin Ortiz registering six of those 13 – and then earned the game two victory, 13-2. Pitchers Matthew Polestino (four innings pitched), Bobby Ramsey, Scott Wagner and Nick Harvey allowed just three hits in the game with nine strikeouts and two earned runs. Freshman Polestino had a solid start and registered his first win of his collegiate career.

"The wins against Cobleskill was [much] needed," Amoroso said. "We came off a heartbreaker against Plattsburgh, so just to give the guys more confidence. We were playing good baseball. It was just a tough game and these are big, and momentum is key in these games."

SUNY New Paltz hopes it can continue that offensive production Saturday against the Red Dragons, who recently split their series against Plattsburgh and Cortland since their meeting with the Hawks. Oneonta were trounced by the Red Dragons in game one, losing 22-1, but it bounced back with a huge outing by its ace Sean Liquori who improved to 4-0 after helping his team to a 2-1 victory and giving the rival Red Dragons its first SUNYAC loss of the season.

"I think it will be a pretty even matchup," Amoroso added. "We're really excited. They talk a lot, [but] a true competitor loves it, so we're fired up about it."

SUNY New Paltz is set to take on the Red Dragons on the road Saturday at Red Dragons Field. First pitch is scheduled for noon.



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