Cortland, NY — Despite seemingly insurmountable odds, the Hawks found a way.
 
Down 10 runs, the State University of New York at New Paltz showed once again the type of team it has been all season. Meticulously chipping away at the hefty deficit, the Hawks came back to earn a 12-11 come-from-behind walk off win over Oswego — thanks to fifth-year Nick Harvey — to earn its way to the winner's bracket in the first day of the SUNYAC Championship Tournament Thursday.
 
"This team is just filled with dogs that grind day in and day out and we are never out of any game. #GOTOWAR," Harvey said.
 
SUNY New Paltz got a standout performance from its bullpen, as freshman Ryan Knieriemen and Liam Ryan came in to pitch the last 6.1 innings for starter Xavier Zykoff and combined to allow just four hits and one earned run to limit the Lakers offense, giving their team the ability to creep back into the game.
 
Zykoff, who all season has been one of the most reliable arms for the Hawks, had an off day in his postseason debut and struggled from the start. He allowed four straight hits to begin the game, including a grand slam which put SUNY New Paltz down 4-0 early before allowing two home runs in the second to lengthen the difference to seven, then giving up two more homers in the third, which helped Oswego to a 10-run cushion.
 
Knieriemen came in in the top of the third and earned the last out to end the inning. The Hawks answered in the bottom half, as Anthony Pericolosi platted Harvey with the latter earning a free base with one out earlier in the frame. However, the Hawks turned momentum in the fifth, getting within four by inning's end.
 
Harvey once again came through with a two-out double to ignite the offense before a two-out rally percolated five runs with Michael Ascanio, Pericolosi and Michael Boccarossa all earning base hits to push two runs across. Ristano then cleared the bases with a three-run shot over the left field fence to cut the score to 10-6.  
Knieriemen allowed one in the top of the sixth before he was replaced by Ryan who anchored down, forcing three-straight outs, two on swinging strikeouts to limit the damage as he stranded the bases loaded.
 
Christopher Sais began the bottom of the inning with a leadoff double with Tommy Kreider bringing in the run a batter later on a sacrifice fly to push the score to 11-7. An RBI double by Justin Harvey platted Ristano in the seventh to get SUNY New Paltz another run closer with Nick Harvey cutting the deficit to two after he ripped a triple down the right field line in the eighth. He scored on the next at-bat on a wild pitch creating an 11-9 score.
 
Ryan held strong in the top of the ninth, catching the leadoff batter looking for his sixth strikeout of the game before earning a flyout on the next at-bat. The Lakers knocked a double on the ensuing play, but Ryan ended any type of threat as he forced a flyout to give his team a chance to complete the rally in the bottom of the ninth.
 
 Boccarossa got the inning started with a single to center before Ristano added on with a base hit. Justin Harvey loaded the bases on a walk, allowing Fabian Apicella to knock an RBI single to push Boccarossa across. Wallace Kirkpatrick stepped into the batter's box as a pinch hitter, as the freshman did his job sailing a sacrifice fly to left to tie the game at 11-all, setting the table for Nick Harvey.
 
In a career game and an instant classic, the fifth year worked to a 2-2 count before ripping a ball to shallow center, easily scoring twin-brother Justin for the game-winning run to help his team capture just their fifth ever postseason win.
 
"My adrenaline was literally through the roof as soon as I made contact. I knew the game was over. It just feels so good when you know you did the job to help the boys win in the biggest game of our season," Harvey said. "This moment was arguably the greatest moment in my college career, and I'll definitely remember it for the rest of my life."
 
Harvey was the catalyst, as he was a home run away from hitting for the cycle, ending his day 3-for-4 with three runs, an RBI and two walks. Ristano followed, finishing 3-for-5 with two runs and three RBI, while Pericolosi and Boccarossa combined for four hits, three runs and three RBI. Justin Harvey and Ascanio each added two hits apiece as well with the former adding an RBI and game-winning run.
 
Ryan was handed the win after pitching the final four innings, giving up just two hits, one walk, no runs and tallying six strikeouts on 16 batters faced.
 
"The wildest part was the end," said Hawks coach Thomas Seay. "We kept chipping away at their lead and got two great outings from RK and Liam out of the pen to give us a chance and I felt that if we could give ourselves a chance in the back half of the game, we might be able to pull it off, but credit these men for continuing to compete and play with grit. Just a great program win."
 
No. 2 seed SUNY New Paltz (27-13 overall), which has already well surpassed its highest win total in program history, continues its magical run into day two of the SUNYAC Tournament on the campus of SUNY Cortland. Next up for the Hawks in the double elimination tournament is the top-seeded Red Dragons who handily defeated No. 4 seed Plattsburgh in the opening game Thursday, 12-6. The matchup is scheduled for Friday at 12 p.m. but could change due to weather.
 
For up-to-date tournament info, click here.

Nick Harvey Walk-Off (courtesy of Cortland Athletics)


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