New Paltz, NY — It was an extra inning battle between the State University of New York at New Paltz and visiting SUNY Cortland Friday on Loren Campbell Field.
 
The Hawks (21-12 overall, 7-6 SUNYAC) opened up with a strong 5-0 lead with the Red Dragons coming back to gain the advantage before the hosts tied the score in the bottom of the eighth, but all for not, as Cortland came out with an 10-9, 11-inning victory thanks to a go-ahead home run in the final frame.
 
SUNY New Paltz opened up the game hot, scoring five runs in the bottom of the first and forcing the Red Dragons to go into their bullpen early. Tommy Kreider got the offense started with a one-out single through the right side of the infield. Michael Ascanio followed with a base hit to left before Anthony Pericolosi, the former Red Dragon, was intentionally walked to load the bases. Michael Boccarossa walked up to the plate, and like he has all season, the sixth-year captain came up clutch, as he struck a two-RBI single to center to plate Ascanio and Kreider and create a 2-0 cushion for the Hawks.
 
Justin Harvey added on, as he muscled a ball down the first base side for an RBI double, which scored Boccarossa from second. Cortland made a pitching change but it still couldn't settle down the side as Fabian Apciella kept the rally going with a bases clearing single to center, which scored Dillon Ristano and Harvey to bring the lead to 5-0.
 
However, the Red Dragons came back to cut the difference to one in the top of the second. Xavier Zykoff allowed the first three batters on to load the bases, following a double, a walk and a base hit. He almost got out of the jam with a routine double play but fumbled a dribbler hit back to the mound before overthrowing Harvey at first, which scored two. Cortland got another across on a ground out before Zykoff struck out the following batter for the second out. The Red Dragons added one more before inning's end, scoring their fourth run of the stanza with a base hit through the left side to cut the score, 5-4.
 
 
Zykoff settled down and got through five more innings, allowing one more run in the fourth before closing out the fifth. He was relieved by Connor Olson in the sixth, but the senior couldn't limit the damage as he entered with a runner in scoring position. He walked three straight batters before getting pulled for Jason Wall. Wall got the last two outs, but not before Cortland took a 7-5 lead.
 
SUNY New Paltz rallied to re-take the advantage in the bottom half. A hit-by-pitch started the inning with Nick Harvey coming up with a double in the next at bat, forcing another pitching change for the Red Dragons. The new pitcher allowed a walk on their very first batter, loading the bases for Ascanio who also took a walk, which scored Chris Thorne to get the Hawks within one. Pericolosi then took a walk to score another run before Boccarossa did his job, hitting a long fly ball to center to plate Kreider from third to push SUNY New Paltz ahead, 8-7.  
A two-run home run allowed the Red Dragons to re-take the lead, but the Hawks answered in the bottom of the inning. Nick Harvey got the inning going with a leadoff double. Kreider advanced Harvey over with a flyout before Ascanio brought Harvey home on a ground out to tie the game at 9-all.
 
Matt Sarni went back to work int the ninth and earned three quick outs with two swinging strikeouts and a groundout. SUNY New Paltz threatened a walk-off in the bottom of the inning, as Ristano got on with a one-out single. Apicella then kept the inning alive with a two-out base hit, but freshman Wallace Kirkpatrick couldn't hit in the game-winner as he was fooled by a pitch looking, taking the strikeout.
 
Neither team mustered anything in the first inning of extras and Sarni nearly got out of the 11th unscathed as he forced a double play after allowing the leadoff batter on with a walk. However, Cortland regained the lead as it hit a solo shot over the right field fence to go up by one. Ryan Knieriemen came into relieve Sarni to close out the side.
 
The offense stalled there for SUNY New Paltz. Ristano gave his team some life after generating a two-out walk. Justin Ortiz went into pinch run and earned a stolen base to put himself in scoring position for Justin Harvey. But the fifth year couldn't come through with a much-needed hit and struckout swinging to close the game.
 
Zykoff ended up pitching 5.1 innings, giving up seven hits, six earned runs, four walks with four strikeouts. Sarni pitched 4.2 innings, allowing just three hits, three earned runs and three walks with seven strikeouts and took hist first loss of the season, dropping his record to 3-1 overall.
 
Both teams generated 10 hits in the game. Nick Harvey went 2-for-5 with two runs and walk in the leadoff spot, while Kreider followed in the two-hole, going 2-for-4 with two runs and two walks. Apicella followed offensively, as he finished 2-for-5 with two RBI.
 
SUNY New Paltz returns to Loren Campbell Field Saturday, looking to avenge the extra inning loss to the same Cortland team as the two face off in a series ending doubleheader starting at noon. The Hawks will honor its four senior members prior to the game.
 

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