New Paltz, NY — The State University of New York New Paltz opened up SUNYAC play Friday against the visiting Kangaroos of SUNY Canton and the defending conference champs rolled to a dominant, 18-0 victory.
 
The Hawks improved to 9-6 overall and 1-0 in the SUNYAC after holding Canton to just three hits over a shortened seven innings of play as they reached the 10-run difference after the fourth inning. Freshman Kiran Paingankar highlighted the day on the mound for SUNY New Paltz, as the Bellmore, NY native had a no-hitter going through three-plus innings and ultimately allowed just three hits with a career-high seven strikeouts in his first complete game shutout win.
 
Offensively, the Hawks totaled a season-high 20 hits with 11 different players registering a hit, led by senior Anthony Pericolosi who was a perfect 4-for-4 with three runs and six RBI, which included two doubles and two homers.
 
Pericolosi got the game going to lead off the first, knocking a double in the gap at left center. Tommy Kreider soon brought him home on a two-run home run — the first of five homers in the game for SUNY New Paltz. The offense continued in the second, as Pericolosi registered an RBI double that plated Matt Sarni who got on with a one-out single. The Hawks then opened up the game in a five-run third inning, aided by a two-RBI base hit by Fabian Apicella, which scored Wallace Kirkpatrick and Joe Richetti. Pericolosi came back up to bat two batters later and ripped a three-run shot to bring his team's lead to 8-0.
 

Michael Ascanio started the fourth on a base hit and was followed by another double from Pericolosi. Kirkpatrick then ripped a three-run home run before Richetti followed with a solo homer on the next at-bat to bring the score to 12-0. Following a pitching change by the Roos, Apicella made sure to keep the offense going with a single to left. Pericolosi then capped his prolific day, ripping a two-out two-RBI home run to extend SUNY New Paltz lead, 14-0 by inning's end.
 
The Hawks added two insurance runs in the fifth and sixth innings, respectively, before Paingankar closed out the seventh as he forced three straight outs following a lead-off single by Canton.
 
Kreider followed Pericolosi offensively, going 3-for-4 with two runs, two RBI, a walk and a stolen base. Apicella also went 3-for-4, adding three runs and two RBI. Kirkpatrick finished 1-for-2 with two runs, a walk and three RBI, while Richetti went 2-for-3 with two runs and one RBI.
 
SUNY New Paltz and Canton return to Loren Campbell Field Saturday to conclude their three-game series with a doubleheader starting at noon.

Game Highlights (by Aiden Duran/Athletic Communications)

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