New Paltz, NY — The State University of New York at New Paltz was on Loren Campbell Field for the first time in 2023, opening up SUNYAC play against SUNY Brockport for a doubleheader to begin its three-game series.
 
The Hawks came back to tie at 3-3 in game one, but the Golden Eagles plated the go-ahead run in the sixth and won, 4-3 before taking that momentum into game two, scoring seven runs in the first two innings which allowed them to roll to a commanding 14-4 victory in eight innings.
 
Billy Moeller was the ace for SUNY New Paltz in game one and pitched five solid innings, giving up just five hits and three earned runs with two walks and two strikeouts. The Golden Eagles, meanwhile, had to reach into the pen early with starter Andrew Huffman suffering an apparent injury, which forced him out of the game after one inning of work. Adam Douglas came into relief and pitched the next four.
 
The Golden Eagles took the lead in the top of the first as they led off with a hard hit single up the middle to get things going. Moeller hit the next batter before earning a flyout in the following at-bat but laid one over the plate for Brockport's Patrick Bigham who ripped a three-run home run over the left field fence to bring his team to a 3-0 lead. Jordan Rios made sure to not let the Golden Eagles pile on, though, as the sophomore made a nice catch in right with the ball tailing toward the right field line. Moeller then ended the inning on a pop up to get out of third.
 
 
SUNY New Paltz gave Moeller some run support in the bottom of the fourth with one swing by Dillon Ristano who raked a ball over the left field fence to cut the deficit, 3-1. The Hawks added on in the bottom of the fifth and tied the score at 3-all. Ryan Mackle began the inning with a leadoff single into shallow center. Chris Thorne laid down a bunt to move Mackle over, but an overthrow by Douglas allowed him to get on as well. Tommy Kreider then got a bunt down and used his speed to beat out the throw to first, getting the bases loaded with no outs and setting the table for designated hitter Christopher Sais. The freshman continued an impressive year at the plate, getting the job done as he hit a ball deep to the left field fence to score Thorne and Mackle.
 
The Hawks couldn't pile on, however, as Douglas forced three-straight outs on a strikeout, foul out and pop out, leaving Kreider and Sais stranded on first and second.
 
Brockport took advantage in the sixth. Xaiver Zykoff took over on the mound for Moeller and quickly earned two outs on a pop up and strikeout but gave up a double to right to keep the inning alive. The Golden Eagles followed with back-to-back base hits, the latter scoring the go-ahead run proving the difference. Brockport retired SUNY New Paltz' next nine batters to close out the win.  
The Golden Eagles got on top of freshman starter Liam Ryan early to begin game two. After giving up a one-out walk, Ryan allowed back-to-back doubles then a hit-by-pitch and another walk to load the bases with a 2-0 deficit. Brockport brought another run across on a walk and took a 3-0 lead entering the bottom half of the inning.
 
SUNY New Paltz cut the deficit to two in the half inning that followed. Thorne led off with a single and Kreider walked in the next at-bat. Michael Boccarossa then came through with runners on, hitting a shallow single to center, platting Thorne from second to bring the score, 3-1.
 
Brockport broke the game open in the top of the second, as Ryan struggled getting an out. The Golden Eagles had three-straight hits and a walk, helping in a 4-1 lead before James McGovern came in to relieve Ryan with runners on second and third. The Golden Eagles eventually left the inning owning a 7-1 lead before McGovern ended the frame on a fly out.
 
After Brockport took a 9-1 advantage with two runs in the third, SUNY New Paltz scored two in the bottom half with Kreider leading off with a double. Ristano eventually brought Kreider home on a double of his own and a Boccarossa groundout scored Sais who got on earlier in the inning because of a bobble by the shortstop to bring the score to 9-3.
 
However, the Golden Eagles continued taking advantage of the Hawks' bullpen and added two runs in the fifth and two more in the sixth to create a 13-3 cushion. SUNY New Paltz got the difference down to nine in the bottom of the sixth thanks to a pair of pinch hits by Pierson McGinnis and Alex Oulette. Thorne took advantage with an RBI double to plate McGinnis, but the offense stalled there for the Hawks. Brockport added a run in the eighth to re-establish a 10-run cushion and held SUNY New Paltz scoreless in the bottom half to close the game in just eight innings played.
 
Thorne was the only Hawk with a multi-hit game, going 2-for-4 with a run and RBI in game two. Kreider went 1-for-3 with a run and walk. McGinnis went 1-for-2 with a run. In game one, Sais went 1-for-3 with two RBI and a walk. Ristano finished 1-for-4 with a run and RBI, while Mackle went 1-for-4 with a run scored.
 
SUNY New Paltz and Brockport are back on the dirt Saturday morning with a 9 a.m. start, trying to beat pending rain and snow to conclude its three-game series.
 
*Due to weather concerns, there will be no live stream for the game. Live stats will be provided.

Hawks v Brockport: Game 1 Highlights


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