Hackettstown, NJ —The State University of New York at New Paltz rallied to earn a doubleheader split against Centenary University Friday. The Hawks dropped game one, 5-4 before earning a game two victory, 7-6.
 
The Hawks (2-5 overall) faced a six-run deficit entering the top of the fourth after the Cyclones scored four in the first and added two insurance runs in the bottom of the third. SUNY New Paltz cut into the lead in the next half inning, starting with a lead-off base hit by Michael Boccarossa. Following a walk by Dillon Ristano, Christopher Sais ripped an RBI double to plate Boccarossa to get the Hawks on the board. Fabian Apicella then scored two more on a two RBI single to right, bringing home Sais and Ristano to cut the score, 6-3.
 
Sais came through again for the Hawks in the top of the fifth, tying the game with one swing on a three-run home run to knot the score at six. Xavier Zykoff was brought in to pitch the bottom half and the freshman struck out the first two batters before a fielder's choice ended the inning with the game still tied at 6-6.

Both teams were shutout in the sixth, setting up a pivotal final inning. Ristano led off with a walk and advanced to second on a groundout by Sais. Pierson McGinnis pinch ran for Ristano, but a strikeout by Apciella left the Hawks with one out left and Justin Harvey at the plate. The senior came up clutch, swinging for a RBI base hit to left, which platted the go-ahead run and pushed SUNY New Paltz to its first lead of the game.  
Shane Linett came in for relief. The freshman allowed a lead-off double but got the first out on a fielder's choice. A pinch-hit single by Centenary pushed a run into scoring position with Mike Ascanio coming in and getting the final out of the inning on a strikeout to earn the save to close the 7-6 win.
 
Harvey led the way offensively, going 4-for-4, including the game-winner. Sais also had a day at the plate, finishing 2-for-4 with two runs and four RBI. Ristano totaled two runs and three walks, while Apicellla registered a hit and two RBI.
 
Zykoff earned his first career win in two innings of work, giving up no hits with one walk and three strikeouts against eight batters faced.
 
SUNY New Paltz looked to rally in game one as well after getting down by a run in the third. The Hawks answered with a run in the top of the fourth following an RBI single by Harvey to plate Ristano. They scored three insurance runs in the top of the fifth on a double by Ristano and a two RBI single by Apicella to create a 4-1 lead. Errors plagued SUNY New Paltz down the stretch, though, as an error at first allowed the lead-off runner on in the fifth for the Cyclones and eventually the runner was batted in on a single on the next at-bat. After getting the first out on a fielder's choice, Centenary platted another run following an error at short with Cyclones scoring two more on the following at-bat on a drop in right field, which tied the game at four.
 
The bottom of the seventh began with another error by the Hawks with that run eventually crossing home two batters later on an RBI single, proving the difference in the game. SUNY New Paltz had an opportunity to drive in a run in the top of the ninth after Boccarossa began the inning with a single to center. A fielder's choice by Ryan Mackle was the first out of the inning, following another fielder's choice by Ascanio. Ristano got him into scoring position on a single to left, but a flyout by Apicella ended the game at 5-4 in favor of the Cyclones.
 
Billy Moeller was given the loss after pitching 5.2 innings, allowing just one earned run. Ristano and Harvey each went 3-for-4 with an RBI, while Ristano added two runs and a walk. Apicella and Matt Sarni each had two hits with Apicella recording two RBI in the outing.
 
SUNY New Paltz is back in action Wednesday going on the road to face SUNY Purchase for a single game at 3 p.m.

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