New Paltz, NY — The State University of New York at New Paltz nearly snuck a win over No. 13 nationally ranked SUNY Cortland Friday in a rainy 10-inning game on Loren Campbell Memorial Field.
 
The Hawks (14-20 overall, 6-10 SUNYAC) tied the score twice throughout the game including in the bottom of the ninth and had the opportunity for a legendary walk-off win, but came just a run shy and fell, 8-7 in game one of the three-game series.
 
After the Red Dragons took the initial 1-0 lead in the second, Dean Stalzer tied the game in the bottom of the inning with a solo home run over the left field fence to knot the game at a run apiece.
 
The offense was halted until the sixth inning when Cortland regained the lead with two more runs scored. With the rain coming down, Billy Moeller, who earned the start on the bump for the Hawks, had trouble with his grip on the ball and plunked Cortland's leadoff batter. A walk put two on with no out for the Red Dragons. After a pop-out, Moeller hit another batter to load the bases, but the senior settled in for a huge strikeout in the following at-bat. On a full count, Cortland hit a tailing single through the right side of the infield to score two. James McGovern then came in to secure the final out.

McGovern gave up a lead-off double to start the seventh, but didn't break, stranding the runner at third after forcing three-straight outs to get out of the inning, The Hawks responded in the bottom half thanks again to the big bat of Stalzer. Michael Boccarossa set the table, muscling a pitch over the Red Dragons' third baseman's glove for a lead-off single. Stalzer was patient before blasting his second home run of the game, this time over the right field fence, for the two-run shot to tie the game at 3-3.
 
 
The home run was Stalzer's 13th of the season — the most in single season program history — and 44th RBI, which puts the Shoreham, NY native tied for the single-season record with former Hawks Brian Clarke '00 and Bill Kelts '06.

Cortland re-took the lead in the eighth on a pinch-hit solo home run by Paul Franzese that went well past the centerfield fence onto the neighboring softball field. But, the lead didn't last long, as SUNY New Paltz fought to tie the game once more in the bottom of the ninth.
 
With two outs, freshman Tommy Kreider stroked a hard hit back to the mound to reach first safely. Dillon Ristano then did the rest cracking a double deep into the left field gap to plate the speedy Kreider from first to tie the score and extend the game into extras.
 
The Red Dragons answered at the top of the 10th, as they opened up the inning with a lead off single, followed by an RBI base hit to plate the go-ahead run. With the bases loaded, Scott Giordano hit what proved as the difference in the game on a three-run home run to give Cortland an 8-4 advantage heading into the bottom half of the inning.
 
SUNY New Paltz didn't give up the fight though and strung together a rally. Nick Harvey walked to lead-off and was followed by a base hit through the right side by Joe Patane. A passed ball advanced both runners into scoring position for Boccarossa who hit an RBI single to shallow right. With two on and Stalzer walking up the plate, the Red Dragons opted to intentionally walk the power hitter, not risking a three-home run day. Kreider came up clutch though, rifling a two RBI single to right, scoring both Boccarossa and Patane to cut the score to 8-7 with Stalzer advancing to third. The Hawks couldn't replicate their magic one final time though, as John Reece grounded out to close the game, 8-7 in favor of the visitors.
 
Stalzer was the catalyst offensively, going 2-for-4 at the plate with two runs and three RBI. Boccaorssa and Kreider followed, both going 2-for-5 with the latter adding one run and two RBI, while the former added two runs and an RBI. Ristano also finished with two hits and an RBI.
 
Moeller pitched 5.2 innings, allowing six hits, three earned runs with three strikeouts in the no-decision. James Trink was given the loss in two innings pitched.
 
SUNY New Paltz resumes its series with Cortland Saturday. Due to weather the doubleheader was moved to the turfed Red Dragons Field on the campus of SUNY Oneonta starting at noon.

Highlights


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