Clermont, FL — The State University of New York New Paltz closed out the final day in Florida at the PFX Spring Games and fell, 5-4 to Kalamazoo and 3-0 to Amherst Friday.
 
The Hawks dropped to 3-11 overall and finish their spring break trip 1-9 through their 10-game slate, losing six consecutive following Friday's results.
 
They out-hit the Hornets, 9-6 in Game 1, but left nine runners stranded as they struggled to get timely at-bats in a tight one-run contest. Jackie Rometo hustled to first on a dropped fly ball at short before stealing second to get herself into scoring position to lead off the game in the top of the first. She stole third a batter later and was brought home thanks to an RBI single by Ella Sharrock, giving SUNY New Paltz the initial 1-0 lead.
 
The Hawks added on in the second, as Maddie Anderson reached following a base hit through the left side. Lauren Serrao moved her over on a sacrifice bunt with Sophia D'Arcangelis coming through clutch, knocking a two-out RBI base hit to bring Anderson home and doubling her team's lead.
 
SUNY New Paltz extended its lead to 4-0 in the fifth, started by a lead-off base hit from Kelsey O'Brien. O'Brien stole second and advanced to third following a flyout by Sharrock before reaching home on two-out, RBI base hit by Emmie Mae Cabrera. Alyssa Zangrilli kept the two-out rally alive, rocking a double to left and bringing home Michaela Bridgwood who pinch ran for Cabrera.
 
Kalamazoo broke the shutout with a run scored in the bottom half but won the game in a four-run sixth inning. The Hawks were held scoreless in the top of the frame and the Hornets began the bottom of the inning with a lead-off double and advanced over on a wild pitch. A miscue at first allowed a run to score following a grounder in the next at-bat. SUNY New Paltz earned the first out on a pop up, but a walk allowed two runners on. A strikeout followed, but the Hornets kept the inning alive on a two-out RBI single to get within one. The rally continued with a walk before a double snatched the lead from SUNY New Paltz and pushed Kalamazoo ahead, 5-4.
 
A lead-off walk by Sharrock kept the Hawks alive in the top of the seventh, but the Hornets earned two outs with a flyout and a fielder's choice. Zangrilli continued the inning by hitting a single through the left side, but a strikeout ended the game, stranding two runners on and finalizing the 5-4 outcome.
 
Sydney Waldon was given the loss as her record moved to 2-5 overall. In 5.2 innings of work, the senior allowed just six hits, two earned runs with four walks and six strikeouts on 27 batters faced.
 
The offense stalled in Game 2 against Amherst, as SUNY New Paltz totaled five hits and were shutout for the fifth time on the year. Cabrera was the only Hawk who finished with a multi-hit game, going 2-for-3. O'Brien registered a base hit and a stolen base, while D'Arcangelis and Sharrock were the only two other Hawks to tally a base hit.
 
The Mammoths held onto a 1-0 lead following a solo shot in the top of the second inning. Leah Gunsett and SUNY New Paltz's defense did well to keep the game close with the score remaining until the seventh. Amherst led off the inning with a single and added another base hit two batters later before an RBI double gave the Mammoths some breathing room. A sacrifice fly then added another to bring the lead to 3-0 heading into the bottom of the seventh.
 
The Hawks didn't have an answer for Amherst's Dylan Briggs, as a 1-2-3 inning finalized the 3-0 score. Gunsett, meanwhile, allowed 12 hits, three earned runs with one walk and seven strikeouts in a full seven innings of work.
 
SUNY New Paltz returns home, opening up on Mary Gray Deane Field March 29 for a doubleheader against Farmingdale State starting at 1 p.m.


 
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