New Paltz, NY — The State University of New York at New Paltz returned home Tuesday, taking on The College of Mount Saint Vincent for the first since 2016 on Loren Campbell Memorial Field.
 
Riding on a weekend series win over Brockport, the first over the Golden Eagles since 2019, the Hawks (20-11) entered Tuesday's non conference matchup against the Dolphins with confidence. They trailed for the majority of the game until late heroics by captain Michael Boccarossa in the eighth pushed them to the eventual, 3-2 victory. 
 
Right-hander Frankie Collora was on the mound Tuesday, chasing his first win of the season. Collora cruised through the first three innings, retiring seven out of nine hitters.  In the top of the fourth, Collora retired the lead-off batter on a groundout to Boccarossa at second. The next batter watched ball-four run inside to put a runner on first. With two outs, Collora threw wild to first, allowing the runner to move into scoring position. The Dolphins continued to have a keen eye and watched another four balls go past. Searching for the final out of the inning, a passed ball moved the runners to second and third. But that mistake didn't affect Collora, as he buckled down and retired the final out of the inning on a strikeout swinging.
 
In the top of the fifth, Mount Saint Vincent led off with a single up the middle. With a runner on, the next batter lined a shot to Boccarossa. He touched second and threw to first in time for the 4-3 double play. Collora set down the final batter with a shot to Tommy Kreider at short. Kreider had trouble keeping it in his glove, but kept the ball in front to record the out.
 
The first two Hawks were set down in order in the bottom of the fifth. SUNYAC Athlete of the Week Fabian Apicella looked to break the scoreless tie by socking one over the reach of the shortstop. Ryan Mackle stepped up and worked a walk to put two on and two out. With runners in scoring position, Nick Harvey hit a nubbier right back to the pitcher who took it himself to first.
 
 
Collora surrendered a lead-off single in the top of the sixth as the Dolphins looked to push a run across. The runner moved to second on a passed ball, and on a ball cracked to right, was brought home to score the first run of the game for both sides, knocking Collora out of the game.
 
Liam Ryan took over in his eighth appearance of the season in the sixth. An errant throw from Ryan advanced the runner to second. Ryan had trouble finding the zone and walked the next batter to put two on. However, he dialed in and struck out the next batter looking. Mount Saint Vincent was patient at the plate again, and walked to load the bases. Looking to get a drag bunt down, the Dolphins popped a ball right back to Dillon Ristano, and he took the ball back to third to double the runner off and keep the score at 1-0.  
In the top of the seventh, Ryan set down the first two hitters on a strikeout and a groundout to Kreider. The Dolphins extended the inning on a walk and a hit by pitch. The Hawks' defense took care of the chance of a run scoring as a fly ball was tracked down by Michael Ascanio patrolling center.
 
Right-hander Connor Olson took over in his 11th appearance of the year in the eighth. Mount Saint Vincent put two runners on with an error by Kreider, and a base on balls. The next batter clocked a ball to left. Nick Harvey could not reel the ball in allowing a run to score. With a run home, Olson settled down to secure the final two outs down 2-0.
 
It was time to start a comeback, and that's exactly what SUNY New Paltz did. Kreider cracked a one-out single to center to get the party started. Ascanio followed and got nicked with a pitch. Anthony Pericolsi stepped up and showed bunt, but pulled back and laced a single that dropped into right field. With bases loaded and one-out, the Dolphins turned to their bullpen for the second time. Right-handed pitcher against left-handed batter Boccarossa, he promptly lined a ball all the way to right field to clear the bases and cement the comeback to put SUNY New Paltz on top 3-2.
 
"I just try to come up big for my team. I was the guy that got the hit but I wanted to give a shoutout to Connor Olson in the top of the eighth," Boccarossa said. "He buckled down with runners in scoring position and got a big strikeout. He came through and got out number three to keep it a two-run ball game. I don't get that moment unless Olson does that for the team, and then I just try to do my job."
 
Right-hander Matt Sarni looked to shut the door in his 14th appearance. Sarni retired the first batter on strikeout looking. The Dolphins kept the inning alive with a single to center. Looking for the final two outs, Sarni induced a 4-6-3 game-ending double play, securing the Hawks' 3-2 comeback victory and securing Sarni with his fourth save of the season, which tied the most in single-season program history alongside alum John Lutes who registered four back in 2005. 
 
Collora went five innings,giving up no runs with two walks and three strikeouts in the no-decision, while Olson was handed his third win of the year to improve to 3-0 after pitching the eighth, giving up no hits and limiting the damage leading to Boccarossa's go-ahead hit in the bottom half. 
 
Kreider went 2-for-4 with a run scored. Ascanio went 1-for-2 with a walk and a run scored. Pericolosi went 1-for-3 with a run scored and a walk. Boccarossa went 1-for-3 with all three RBI for SUNY New Paltz. Apicella went 3-for-3.
 
The victory Tuesday officially gave the Hawks their first 20-win season in nearly 10 years, tying the most since 2016 and seventh ever in program history. They are just three wins away from passing the most victories in program history which came in back-to-back seasons in 2000 & 2001 (22). 

SUNY New Paltz continues its homestand Wednesday taking on SUNY Cobleskill back on Loren Campbell Memorial Field at 4 p.m.
 

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