New Paltz, NY—The State University of New York at New Paltz continued its quick two game homestand Wednesday on Loren Campbell Field, taking on Manhattanville College for the first time in almost 22 years.
 
The Hawks (13-9 overall) looked to bounce back after a solid offensive day Tuesday where they scored seven runs but had trouble racking up hits. Wednesday was a different story as the hits piled up as well as the runs, as they came back from four runs down to earn an 11-10 walk off victory over the Valiants.
 
Frankie Collora was on the hill Wednesday looking for his second win of the season. Collora retired the first two Valiants on two swinging strikeouts. That first impression didn't faze Manhattanville as they lined two singles and put two on base. Next batter lined one to right which got down in front of Joe Richetti. He made sure the run wouldn't score and fired to cut off Justin Harvey. Harvey then threw a dart home to get the out and keep the run off the board.
 
SUNY New Paltz got the runs started in the bottom of the first when Tommy Kreider lined one to left for a single. Next batter Anthony Pericolosi lined one to center that got past the centerfielder, which allowed Kreider to come home easily with the game's first run. 
 
In the top of the third, Collora sat down the first two batters on a flyout and a strikeout swinging.  A base on balls put a runner on with two outs. The Valiants decided to try to steal second and test the arm of freshman catcher Wallace Kirkpatrick, but it did not go well for them, as he gunned down the runner trying to steal second. 
 
In the bottom of the third, Michael Ascanio socked one to center, and hustled all the way to third with a triple. With two outs, Pericolosi grounded one in the hole at short. A wild throw moved him to second as Ascanio came in to score and put the Hawks on top, 2-0.
 
 
Collora ran into some trouble in the bottom of the fourth. With a runner on, Manhattanville lined one to right. A strong throw from Richetti kept the runner from moving to third. Next batter was hit by the pitch and the bases were loaded. A passed ball squeezed by Kirkpatrick and cut the lead to 2-1. Collora escaped the fourth with one run surrendered on a grounder to second.
 
In the top of the fifth, the Valiants reached on a hit by pitch and a ball that was smoked just under the glove of Harvey at first, which ended Collora's night as righthander Matt Sarni took over in his 10th appearance of the season. First batter he faced rocketed one to left for a two-run double, pushing the Valiants up 3-2. Next batter lined one and added another one making it 4-2. 
Manhattanville tried a second time to run on Kirkpatrick. Once again, they were unsuccessful as he nailed the runner at second. The runs kept coming, as a single lined to right drove home the fourth run of the inning. Sarni had trouble finding the strike zone, as a walk put two runners on base with one out. The fifth run of the inning came on an errant throw on a fielder's choice by Fabian Apicella at short. The ball went into right field, allowing Manhattanville to add on. Sarni bounced back however, with a strikeout swinging and a ground ball to third. 
 
One run was the difference with two outs in the fifth. It all started when Richetti socked one for a single. Kreider had a keene eye and walked. Pericolosi looked to cut the lead in half and came through. He cracked one to center for a hit. Richetti scored and the lead was cut in half. With two on and two outs, Dilon Ristano roped a double to left field, driving in two and making it a one run Manhattanville lead.
 
Freshman right hander Dylan Thomasson took over in his eighth appearance of the season in the top of the sixth. Out of the gate, the Valiants attacked and recorded two hits and a walk which loaded the bases. Thomasson got into trouble and had a hard time getting out of the jam. Back-to-back hits drove in two more, which made it an 8-5 game. Manhattanville turned to a pinch hitter, which paid off for them as he delivered a two-run single to push the score to 10-5. Freshman left-hander Ryan Knierieman took over in a mop-up role in his seventh appearance of the season and immediately picked up two outs after forcing a 1-6-3 double play. The next batter lined a single to extend the inning, but Knierieman buckled down and got out of the inning with a strikeout.
 
SUNY New Paltz was determined to get back in the game and make a comeback. Fabian Apicella started the rally with a one-out walk. Kreider did what he does best and added on with a hit. Lining a ball to right, Kreider hustled out an RBI triple to get his team within four. Ascanio joined in on the fun with an RBI single of his own and cut the lead to 10-7. Two batters later, Michael Boccarossa socked one to center and scored two runs to get the Hawks within one.
 
The seventh inning was the last of the game and SUNY New Paltz looked to complete the comeback win. Manhattanville was one out away from securing the victory, but Apicella made sure to extend the inning as he was patient at the plate and ultimately took a two-out walk to give his team some life. Richetti then lined one to left and moved the tying run to second, setting the table for Kreider. The junior came through for his team, smacking a walkoff double to score Apicella and Richetti, securing the comeback and the 11-10 walkoff win.
 
"I was just very confident in myself," Kreider said. "I thought immediately I was going to get a hit once I got up. I just needed runners on and that's what Fabian and Richetti did. So, once I got to the box, I was ready. I was ready."
 
Collora went four innings and allowed seven hits, three runs, two of which were earned with one walk and one strikeout. Connor Olson was handed the win, coming out of the bullpen in the seventh and allowed no hits, no runs, no walks with no strikeouts.
 
The Hawks collected 13 hits in the win. Richetti went 2-for-3. Kreider went 2-for-4 with two RBI. Ascanio went 3-for-4 with an RBI. Pericolosi went 4-for-4 with three RBI. Boccarossa went 1-for-2 with two RBI. Ristano added two RBI.
 
SUNY New Paltz heads upstate Friday and Saturday for a three-game series against SUNY Oneonta. Doubleheader is scheduled for Friday and Single Saturday. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. Friday on Red Dragon Baseball Field.

 

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