New Paltz, NY — The State University of New York at New Paltz dropped its final game of its three-game series against Plattsburgh Tuesday.
 
After sweeping their doubleheader against the Cardinals Monday, the Hawks had trouble on the mound with ace Billy Moeller on short rest after pitching against Oneonta in that series on Friday. Plattsburgh came out and scored early, totaling 13 hits and held off a late ninth-inning rally to defeat SUNY New Paltz, 8-5.
 
The Cardinals got on the board in the second, as a grounder got past Joe Patane at first base to extend the inning. The next at-bat was a fielder's choice to get one run across and the visitors added one more following a hard liner to shallow center field. Moeller got out of the inning with a groundout to short, stranding a runner at second.
 
Dillon Ristano helped cut the deficit to one in the bottom half of the inning, roping an RBI double down the left field line to score Tommy Kreider from first. But, the Cardinals broke the game open in the fourth with three more runs to take a 5-1 advantage.
 
With one out, the Cardinals smacked a liner just past the glove of Michael Boccarossa at third, which was followed by a grounder through the right side to plate another run. The scoring was capped by a two-run home run to push the Plattsburgh lead to four.
 
 
Connor Olson came into pitch for Moeller after he threw four innings and 72 pitches against 21 batters faced.
 
Olson gave up a lead-off walk and the runner eventually reached home after Boccarossa mishandled a sharp hop over at third. Olson allowed the runner to advance onto second after a wild pitch, but he managed the damage from there as he got a pop-out two batters later, with Ristano catching the Cardinals trying to steal second with Laurelli on the tag. 
Plattsburgh added a run in the seventh and another in the eighth to take an 8-1 advantage heading into the ninth inning with the Hawks closing the gap with one out. Boccarossa got it started with a base hit, followed by a walk from Patane on a full count, which set the table for Dean Stalzer who last weekend broke the program's all-time single-season and career home run record. He stayed on brand and delivered a three-run shot over the right field fence for his team-leading 11th homer of the season to cut the score to 8-5. Ryan Mackle kept the rally alive with a base hit through the right side, but the Hawks couldn't complete the comeback as a strikeout and a groundout closed out the side.
 
Moeller was given the loss after giving up five earned runs, two walks and tallying two strikeouts. Mackle and Kreider finished with three hits apiece, with Mackle also registering a double in the game. The Hawks offense finished with 12 hits but left 12 runners on unable to capitalize with runners in scoring position.

The loss dropped the team to 14-16 overall and 6-6 in the SUNYAC. SUNY New Paltz is back in action Friday and Saturday for a three-game road series against The College at Brockport. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m. Friday.  

Post-Game Highlights (4/26/22)


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