HACKETTSTOWN, NJ – The State University of New York at New Paltz baseball team rode a stellar performance on the mound from Billy Moeller in game one of their doubleheader at Centenary University Friday, but were tripped up by a big three-run home run in game number two as the Hawks split the two games versus the Cyclones. SUNY New Paltz emerged victorious 3-0 in the first contest but lost the second, 5-4.  
 
In game number one, Moeller was exceptional over seven innings, allowing five hits while striking out five and retiring the Cyclone side in order on two different occasions in the sixth and seventh innings. 
 
"I was happy with the outing we got out of Billy in game one," said Hawks coach Thomas Seay. "He didn't have his best stuff but he pitched and grinded through to provide a quality outing and give us a chance to win." 
 
The offense, which tallied seven hits in game one, got going for the Hawks in the top of the second inning when Dean Stalzer first reached base on an error. After Dillon Ristano flew out to right field, Stalzer stole second base and advanced to third base on an error. Tommy Kreider picked up an RBI on a groundout, scoring Stalzer before Matt Laurelli grounded out to end the inning. Still, SUNY New Paltz led 1-0 after two innings of play. 
 
Moeller tallied his second of his five strikeouts in the bottom of the second, getting Chris Hess to strikeout looking after hitting Christopher Gass. After a Nick Payne single, Payne was called out at second after Paul Links grounded into a fielder's choice. 
The Hawks had a chance to add to their 1-0 lead in the top of the fourth when Justin Ortiz doubled with one out. He was caught stealing at second base, however, and Ristano flew out after a Stalzer walk. 
 
The visitors held on to their 1-0 advantage thanks to the aforementioned pitching of Moeller, who was virtually unhittable all game long. He retired Nicholas Grifone, Gass, and Hess in order in the fourth, and after Links singled with just one out in the fifth, Moeller got Nicholas Gattuso to ground out and Jon Fleck to fly out, ending any possible scoring opportunity for Centenary. 
 
After both sides went 1-2-3 in order in the sixth inning, SUNY New Paltz widened the gap in the seventh. Stalzer led off the inning with a double into right field, and after Ristano struck out, Kreider and Laurelli both walked. With pitcher Anthony Ranaudo struggling in relief of Jared Miller, Matt Oehrlein was called in by coach Kevin Sensale to replace Renaudo. Oehrlein recorded two outs in the inning, but a sacrifice fly from Mike Boccarrosa scored Stalzer, and Mackle also drove in Kreider on a sacrifice. 
 
The three-run cushion through seven and a half innings was all the Hawks needed to secure victory in game one of the set. Moeller, in his last inning pitched on the day, got Gass to fly out while getting Hess and Payne to chase pitches and strikeout. After SUNY New Paltz was put down in order in the eighth, Bobby Ramsey, in relief of Moeller, retired six consecutive Cyclone batters in the eighth and ninth to give the Hawks the 3-0 win, improving their record to 4-5. 
 
SUNY New Paltz connected for seven hits in the game to Centenary's five as Moeller improved his season record to 2-1. Boccarossa and Laurelli were 1-for-3 while Mackle was 1-for-4, and Stalzer walked twice and scored two runs. The Cyclones' catcher Payne had the best day hitting for his squad in game number one, going 2-for-3. Starting pitcher Jared Miller gave up three hits and no earned runs in five innings. 
 
"We did enough offensively in game one to get the win but we weren't exactly firing on all cylinders offensively," Seay said. "Honestly that was the theme of the day. We just weren't able to cash in on our opportunities offensively throughout the day."
 
That theme carried into the second game, although the Hawks got on the board first early on. Mackle singled after Boccarrosa, who led the game off, was walked. After Boccarrosa advanced to third following Jordan Rios grounding into a double play, Patane doubled bringing Boccarrosa to home plate for a 1-0 SUNY New Paltz lead. 
 
Centenary though would respond and tie things up in the second inning. After Nicholas Gattuso grounded out, Fleck walked and Links hit a single that advanced Fleck to third base. After Links was picked off, Jake Keenan hit an RBI single, scoring Fleck to tie the game. 
 
The Hawks returned the favor in the top half of third, loading the bases on three singles from Boccarossa, Mackle, and Rios. Patane then laced a single down the right field line that brought home Mackle and Boccarrosa to give SUNY New Paltz a 3-1 lead. James Trink ran into trouble in the bottom half of the third, walking Fleck and giving up a single to Links that advanced Fleck from first base to third. Kyle Gaertner entered the game for Trink but allowed a sacrifice fly to Keenan that made the score 3-2. Gaertner was however able to get Gass to pop up to end the inning. 
 
The Hawks were unable to capitalize over the next two innings, running into particular trouble in the top of the fifth when Rios, Patane, and Ortiz were retired in succession. The tide then turned in the Cyclones' favor in the bottom of the inning. 
 
Payne, pinch hitting for James Howlett, walked to begin the bottom of the fifth. After Gattuso popped up, Fleck hit a big double into left field that advanced Payne to third base. Links then hit a three-run home run, his first of the season, over the left field fence to give his team a 5-3 lead. Seay made a pitching change, bringing in Matthew Polestino for Gaertner, and Polestino eventually got out of the inning after having runners at first and second by getting Grifone to ground out. 
 
In the top of the sixth, SUNY New Paltz got within one when Jesse Keshner, pinch hitting for Laurelli, hit an RBI double that scored Justin Harvey, the latter of whom walked after Stalzer popped up. After Hess replaced Nick Guiro on the mound, Boccarossa grounded out to end the inning. In the bottom half of the sixth, Dominic Schuch, replacing Polestino, got Payne to ground into a double play and Gattuso to ground out. The Hawks were set up for one last effort to tie or take the lead in the top of the seventh. 
 
After Mackle doubled to the wall in left field, SUNY New Paltz had a runner in scoring position to potentially tie or take the lead. However, Hess caught Rios and Patane looking and got Ortiz to fly out to end the game. 
 
Trink, over 2 ⅓ innings, gave up two runs, three hits and three walks while striking out two. On the Centenary side, Guiro pitched 5 ⅔ innings and gave up four runs, 10 hits and walked two batters. Offensively for the Hawks, Mackle was 3-for-4 with a double and Patane was 2-for-4 with a double and three RBI. 
 
"We had multiple scoring options but weren't able to capitalize," continued Seay. "We're going to need to figure out how to have success in big situations, and situations with a heightened level of pressure. Right now, we aren't able to do that very well." 
 
With the split, SUNY New Paltz stands at 4-6 going into their next game on March 16 at SUNY Purchase. 
 
"Moving forward, I think we need to understand that the baseball season is a long one full of ups and downs," Seay said. "We're 10 games into a 40-game season. We've dropped some winnable games and I don't think our record is indicative of our ability. We have to start closing games out better and capitalizing on our opportunities."
 
Seay does feel good about the offense going forward.
 
"I'm confident that once we get the offensive piece ironed out that we will be right where we want to be," he said. "We just have to keep working and showing up ready to improve." 

**********************
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.