Fishkill, NY — The State University of New York at New Paltz baseball team got back on the right track after splitting a Saturday doubleheader at Mount Saint Mary in its first games of the 2022 season played in New York State.
 
SUNY New Paltz (3-5) lost a tightly contested Game 1 to the Knights, 8-6, but then ended its five game losing streak in Game 2, aided by a five-run seventh inning, 7-3. Both games went an official seven innings at Dutchess Stadium
 
"Feels good to get back in the win column for sure," said Hawks coach Thomas Seay. "We played a much better game two than game one and, of course, dominant pitching will do that, but our at bats were better in game two."
 
Junior Nick Harvey started game one for the Hawks but did not last long due to injury. He gave up two runs on two hits and two walks before exiting the game after the first.
 
"Nick has been battling some lower back discomfort most of this season, it's the main reason why we haven't used him offensively," Seay said of Harvey's short stint. "He tweaked it on one of his first pitches in the first inning and tried to pitch through it, but we made the call to get him out just to be cautious. I have full confidence he'll bounce back, but we'll monitor things this week and see how things progress." 
Despite the shaky start, the Hawks responded immediately in the top of the second, when senior infielder Michael Boccarossa grounded out for the first run and junior catcher Justin Harvey reached on an infield single to plate the tying run.
 
Sophomore James Trink entered the game in relief of Harvey in the second inning and was greeted by back-to-back triples by Luke Barone and Robert Brust, followed by a double that drove in a second run  before settling down to get out of further trouble. He pitched a perfect third inning, but walked Brandon Nolasco, who subsequently scored after an errant pickoff and another throwing error, to start the fourth.
 
SUNY New Paltz chipped away at the deficit in the top of the fourth off reliever Brian Gregory when Harvey was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. A one-out walk and a single created a runner in scoring position in the fifth, and after a nine-pitch at-bat, junior outfielder Leo Alvarez lined a two-out double into the left field gap to tie the game at four. Two pitches later, Boccarosa gave SUNY New Paltz its first lead of the day with a single that drove in both baserunners.
 
However, Trink allowed the first two hitters in the Knights' half to reach and was relieved by junior James McGovern after a popout. He induced a flyout for the second out, but walked back to back hitters to bring in the tying run, then Barone singled with the bases loaded to score two more.
 
After Nick Bianchi and graduate student Bobby Ramsey traded perfect innings in the sixth, the Hawks could only muster a leadoff walk off against Knights' closer Michael DiGiovanni, as Leo Alvarez flied out to end the game, the fifth straight loss for SUNY New Paltz.
 
"We needed better, more productive at bats in game one especially in advantage counts, along with shutdown innings after we scored," Seay said. "We weren't able to do either of those things and that's why we lost."
 
After three scoreless innings to begin the second game of the doubleheader, the Hawks got on the board first without the benefit of a hit. Ortiz reached on base with an error, stole second, took third on a wild pitch and scored on junior outfielder Jordan Rios sacrifice fly. They added another run in the fifth with Boccarosa's RBI flyout.
 
Senior Billy Moeller was stellar to begin game two, throwing five perfect innings along with five strikeouts, only matched by Horan's four no-hit innings for the Knights. The perfect game bid came to a swift end after Knights' catcher Adam Leone singled on the second pitch of the sixth inning. A RBI triple by Jack Goodwin and an Anthony Franco sacrifice fly suddenly tied the game at two with just an inning left of regulation.
 
But in the top of the seventh, the Hawks' bats woke up with a flourish. Back-to-back infield errors, followed by consecutive wild pitches, brought Stalzer home with the go-ahead run, and after Boccarosa grounded out, Alvarez came through again with a one-out triple to score Ristano. Keshner, pinch-hitting for Willie Veras, walked and stole second, the latter allowing Ortiz's single two pitches later to drive in two runners. Ryan Mackle capped the scoring with a booming double off the top of the left field wall to score the fifth run.
 
"I was really happy we were able to answer there in the seventh," Seay said. "We needed that type of fight and to overcome some adversity. Mount St Mary's is a tough and scrappy ball club and they will make you earn your wins, and they weren't going to quit. It was good that we could finish a game, as that's something we've really struggled with. Hopefully this gives us confidence that we can win games late."
 
The Knights responded with a run in the seventh, but Moeller struck out the side to finish the complete game effort.
 
Moeller threw a complete seven innings, as he allowed just four hits, struck out nine, and only walked  one batter in the win. Alvarez batted a combined four-for-six in the doubleheader, including two clutch extra base hits, while Boccarossa was responsible for five of the Hawks' 13 total runs for the day.
 
"Billy was dominant, his fastball was tremendous," Seay said of Moeller's performance. "[Mount Saint Mary] has some guys that are free swingers, Billy was able to locate his baseball which allowed him to get some quick easy outs and get in a rhythm. Things were getting exciting there for a bit because he was perfect through five but I'm happy with his performance and definitely an outing to build upon."
 
SUNY New Paltz returns to the field on March 12 for a road doubleheader at Centenary. The first pitch of the doubleheader is scheduled for 11 a.m. It is the final road doubleheader for the team before its first home game against New Jersey City at Loren Campbell Field.
 
"We need a good week of preparation, so having a quality practice on Monday and getting a good lift in post-practice is where my attention is," Seay said. "We're a good ball club but we need to tighten some things up and not be so careless with the ball or our approach to the game. I think if we can play with more focus and intent we'll be just fine next Saturday, but our preparation is key."
 
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