New Paltz, NY — The State University of New York at New Paltz lost a tough opening series game against visiting Oswego Friday, 14-10.
 
The Hawks (6-13 overall, 0-7 SUNYAC) held a 10-7 lead entering the eighth, but a seven-run inning by the Lakers was the difference as SUNY New Paltz couldn't stem a second rally in the final two frames.
 
Oswego struck first in the fourth, taking a 4-0 cushion entering the bottom half, but the Hawks quickly tied the score at four apiece. Nick Harvey led off the inning with a base hit before Fabian Apicella got on a batter later, setting the table for Christopher Sais who rocketed a three-run shot over the fence to cut the score, 4-3. SUNY New Paltz added another runner on following an error at first by the Lakers with Tommy Kreider taking advantage with a stolen base to put himself in scoring position. Mike Ascanio then knotted up the score at 4-4 with a two-out RBI single to right, bringing Kreider home on the play.
 
Oswego re-took the lead in the top of the fourth, going up 7-4, but once again the Hawks answered in the bottom half.
 
Matt Sarni began the inning with a leadoff single with Harvey, who earned his first start at left field, followed with a base hit to right. Dillon Ristano took a walk to load the bases and Apicella came through with a two RBI single to right. Sais brought in Ristano on a sacrifice fly, tying the score at 7-7 before consecutive walks loaded the bases once again for the Hawks. Ascanio plated the go-ahead run on a sacrifice fly before a double steal allowed Kreider to cross the plate to add another run. Ryan Mackle hit the ball in play and forced an error at short, which allowed Justin Harvey to score to round out the offensive output, which pushed SUNY New Paltz to a 10-7 lead.  
Bobby Ramsey, who came in for relief of starter Billy Moeller pitched through five solid innings before getting replaced by Connor Olson after facing one batter in the eighth, putting the lead off man on with a walk. An RBI single brought the first run home for Oswego and followed with a two-run home run that tied the score at 10-10. Following a walk on the next at-bat, Robert Gregory replaced Olson on the hill, but a pair of passed balls allowed another run to cross home to give the Lakers the lead. Gregory got one out before Xavier Zykoff took over. He allowed a two RBI double and an RBI flyout before Ristano threw out a runner at third to end the inning with Oswego owning a 14-10 advantage into the bottom of the inning.
 
SUNY New Paltz couldn't put together another bottom half rally, stringing together just one hit in the final two innings and suffered its fourth-straight loss.
 
Sais totaled four RBI and one run. Kreider had a hit with two runs and a walk, while Nick Harvey went 2-for-5 with two runs, a walk and a stolen base, and Apicella finished 2-for-3 with two runs, two walks, an RBI and two stolen bases.
 
The Hawks close out their series with the Lakers Saturday at Loren Campbell Field, hosting a doubleheader starting at noon.

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