The State University of New York at New Paltz baseball team takes its 3-5 record on the road Friday as it matches up with Centenary University in a doubleheader starting at 11 a.m. in Hackettstown, NJ. 
 
Each of the Hawks' three wins this season have been against Mount Saint Mary College by scores of 15-1, 7-3, and 7-3, respectively. In their last victory on March 5 from Dutchess Stadium in Fishkill, NY, Justin Ortiz had two RBI, while Leo Alvarez was 2-for-3 with an RBI. Through eight games, Jordan Rios leads the team in batting average at .345 and hits with 10. Michael Boccarossa is batting .318 with seven hits and nine RBI, and Dean Stalzer leads SUNY New Paltz in both home runs with three and RBI with 11 while batting .290. Billy Moeller leads SUNY New Paltz's pitching staff with 23 strikeouts. 
  The Cyclones are 2-4 going into Friday's contest, losers of their last game, a 19-2 decsion against SUNY Cobleskill on March 5. That game was the final of four versus the Fighting Tigers, as the teams played doubleheaders on March 4 and 5. The two squads split the two games on the fourth, with Centenary University losing 7-2 and winning 7-1. On the fifth, the Cyclones emerged victorious, 12-2, prior to the 17-run loss. 
 
Leading Centenary in batting average is Nicholas Gattuso, who has connected in 9 of 18 at-bats. Brandon Smith and Jake Keenan have also managed nine hits, with Smith getting his nine hits in 19 at-bats. He has also tallied three doubles and one triple. Keenan, Smith, and Paul Links lead the team in runs with five each. Sophomore pitcher Nick Guiro is first on the Cyclones in strikeouts with 10, while Jared Miller has seven. 
 
Friday's meetings will be just the second and third lifetime between both schools. On March 13, 2004, SUNY New Paltz defeated Centenary, 16-11. 
 
Two victories for the Hawks would be vital for coach Thomas Seay's squad. A doubleheader sweep not only gives SUNY New Paltz its third consecutive win and to the .500 mark, but would also hopefully elevate the team out of their current last place position in the SUNYAC. If the Hawks can have a positive carryover from their 7-3 victory over the Knights, they should be able to move up the standings after Friday. 

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