New Paltz, N.Y. — The State University of New York at New Paltz's baseball team ended its 2023 season on a positive note. 
 
The season didn't start out the way the team would've hoped with SUNY New Paltz earning an 0-4 record after its first four games against some of the best teams in their respective region. In their fifth game, however, the Hawks got the win they had been looking for. In a game played at the USA Baseball National Training Complex in Cary, North Carolina, they got the better of Elmira College in a dominant, 17-5 win. 
 
To begin the month of March, SUNY New Paltz split its double-header against Centenary University (NJ), losing the first game 5-4, but quickly bouncing back with a 7-6 win in the second. Seniors Dillon Ristano and Justin Harvey were standouts, as Ristano went 3-for-4, scoring two runs and recording an RBI, while Harvey also went 3-for-4 and registered an RBI.  
The following week, SUNY New Paltz split another double-header, this time against Kean University. The Hawks won the first game 2-1 but unfortunately fell in the second, 3-1 against an eventual 27-win Cougar team.  
 
The Hawks did not let the loss to Kean deter them. Only a few days later, the team faced off against Mount Saint Mary College in a doubleheader that saw SUNY New Paltz take both games, 3-2 and 8-4, respectively. Graduate senior and team captain Michael Boccarossa starred during the doubleheader going 2-for-4, while scoring one run and recording two RBI.  
 
As March was coming to a close, SUNYAC play began. In the first round of their conference matchup, the Hawks hosted SUNY Brockport for three games over the span of two days with the Golden Eagles earning all three wins. 
 
Despite not opening conference play as they would've hoped, SUNY New Paltz bounced back in its third meeting with non conference opponents Centenary University. In a convincing 11-3 performance,freshmen Fabian Apicella and Matt Sarni showed out for the Hawks with Apicella going 3-for-5, scoring one run and recording two RBI. Sarni went 2-for-4, scoring twice and registering an RBI.  
 
Returning to SUNYAC play, the Hawks lost back-to-back series, first to SUNY Cortland and then to Oswego State. But in a non conference game against SUNY Cobleskill, they came out on top in a commanding 11-4 win. Freshman Christopher Sais showed his quality on the day, going 4-for-6 while adding two runs.  
 
Following the win at Cobleskill, SUNY New Paltz faced SUNYAC opponent Plattsburgh State and were not able to come out of the series with a win. The losing streak extended to four after a meeting with Russell Sage College.
 
Against local rivals Vassar College, the Hawks secured a shutout on the road in the 10-0 win over the Brewers. Two days later, SUNY New Paltz hosted New York University. During their Green Out Game for Mental Health Awareness, the Hawks bested the Violets in a tight 10-9 game. Freshman pitcher Xavier Zykoff was to thank for closing out the game, as he sat three straight batters at the end of the game and recorded his first collegiate save, securing his team their first win of the season on Lauren Campbell Field. 
 
"I think it certainly means a lot to win finally on our home field," Zykoff said after the win. "Having gone through so many rough games and knowing that our team has the potential, and the guys to put games together it finally feels good to kind of solidify something here and build from that for the rest of the season going on."  
SUNY New Paltz couldn't build on its momentous win, going just 1-for-4 in their next four matchups before returning to SUNYAC play against Fredonia State. The Hawks fell short in game one, but the following day they took the doubleheader, 10-8 and 13-7 with the latter going into extra innings, to secure their first two conference wins of the season. Connor Olson and Sarni were winning pitchers in the effort.
 
As the last weekend of conference matchups rolled around, SUNY New Paltz hosted three games against Oneonta. The Hawks extended their winning streak to four games after beating the Red Dragons in their first two games. SUNY New Paltz dominated in game one, only needing seven innings to claim an 11-1 win with fifth-year senior Billy Moeller having his best outing of the year, pitching all seven innings while giving up just two hits with seven strikeouts. The Hawks then grinded out a low-scoring 3-2 win with Nick Harvey hitting a sacrifice fly to score Tommy Kreider for the go-ahead run in the seventh, while Sarni came in to earn a two-inning save to preserve the one-run victory. 
 
Unfortunately, in their third meeting, the team came up short of the series sweep, falling 14-10. The loss to the Red Dragons was where the season came to an end for the SUNY New Paltz baseball program who recorded an overall record of 14-24, going 4-14 in the SUNYAC. 
 
Despite the loss to Oneonta, the Hawks ended their season on a high after winning four of their last five games, showing that the future is bright for the program. And although they missed out on the playoffs, they got to honor two of their young stars who received All-Conference bids. Sophomore infielder Tommy Kreider was named to the All-SUNYAC First Team while freshman catcher Christopher Sais earned himself the SUNYAC Co-Rookie of the Year Award. Kreider and Sais were two instrumental players during this past season, both leading the team in just about every statistical category. It was the first time since 2019 the Hawks had two all-conference selections and the first since 2016 the program earned a Rookie of the Year honor.  

SUNY New Paltz said goodbye to five players. With a mix of experience and youth returning, the Hawks will look to improve upon their 14 wins and carry the momentum they had from their last five games into next spring as they strive to get back into the postseason.
 
Baseball Season Recap Highlights (edited by Joseph DiPreta/Athletic Communications)

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