New Paltz, NY — A home opening doubleheader sweep of Purchase pushed the State University of New York at New Paltz to its first winning record of the season Saturday.
 
The Hawks (6-5 overall) grinded for two one-run wins, 10-9 and 7-6 on the day to hold off a valiant Purchase Panthers (4-5) team. Freshman Joe Richetti was the player of the day as the Sachem East alum finished a bullish 5-for-10 at the plate with two runs and eight RBI while smacking two home runs.
 
SUNY New Paltz overcame an initial 2-0 deficit in game one with a four-run second thanks to a three-run homer by RIchetti, which gave the Hawks a 4-2 advantage. Michael Boccarossa helped start the inning with a two-out double, which was followed by an RBI single from Fabian Apicella. Justin Harvey kept the rally going with a single and Richetti then cleared the bases with his second home run of the season.
 
After the Panthers gained back a run in the third, Michael Ascanio blasted his first home run of the season before Boccarossa hit in Anthony Pericolosi on an RBI single to push the lead to 6-3 heading into the top of the fourth with Harvey fattening SUNY New Paltz's lead to 8-3 following a two RBI base hit in the fifth to plate Boccarossa and Pericolosi.  
 
A four-run top of the seventh dwindled SUNY New Paltz's advantage to just one, but Richetti came through once again in the bottom half as he hit an RBI base hit to left to score Boccarossa from second.
 
Purchase continued fighting and gained a run in the eighth before tying the score at 9-9 in the top of the ninth following an RBI single following a two-out double to extend the frame. SUNY New Paltz answered though in the bottom of the ninth. Pericolosi got things started with a lead-off single. Boccarossa then reached on an error before a fielder's choice moved everyone over, setting the table for Richetti who like a veteran just smacked a two-out RBI walk-off to score Boccarossa for the game-winning run.
 

Matt Sarni was given the win after pitching the last two innings for SUNY New Paltz, giving up just two hits and one earned run. The Hawks middle of the order did the most damage, as Boccarossa went 3-for-4 with four runs, an RBI and a stolen base. Apicella batted 2-for-4 with a run, an RBI and a walk. Harvey finished 2-for-4 with a run, two RBI and a walk, while RIchetti's game one stat line was 3-for-5 with a run and five RBI.  
Xavier Zykoff pitched a solid game two, as he earned the start and tossed 5.2 innings, giving up eight hits, four earned runs with a walk. However, freshman lefty Ryan Knieriemen earned the win in two thirds of an inning of work after Purchase took the lead in the sixth. Richetti capped a highlight performance with his second homer of the day, rocketing a two-run home run well past the left field fence to give the Hawks a 6-5 lead.
 
The Panthers tied the score at 6-all in the eighth, but the usual suspects came up clutch once again for SUNY New Paltz. Boccarossa started the inning with a leadoff single up the middle with senior Dillon Ristano following with a base hit. Apicella advanced Boccarossa over to third on a fielder's choice with Harvey stepping up to the plate. The fifth-year senior knocked an RBI base hit in the gap in shallow right to plate Boccarossa for the go-ahead run.
 
Robert Gregory came in to pitch the ninth and had a 1-2-3 inning to close out the 7-6 win for his first save of the season.

Richetti was moved to the top of the lineup and went 2-for-5 with a run and three RBI. Ascanio finished 2-for-4 with a triple, a run and an RBI with Apicella finishing 2-for-3 with a run. Nick Harvey went 2-for-4 including a double while adding a run and an RBI to solidify the bottom of the lineup in game two.
 
SUNY New Paltz has a week's rest before its next outing when it hosts SUNY Plattsburgh for a three-game series to open up SUNYAC play. The Cardinals swept the Hawks last season. First pitch of the 2024 series is scheduled for 3 p.m. Friday on Loren Campbell Field.


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