Cortland, NY — The State University of New York New Paltz clinched a game two victory Saturday of its three-game series against rival SUNY Cortland with a 3-1 victory on Wallace Field.
 
The win pushed the Hawks record to 13-7 and 4-1 in the SUNYAC, while dropping the Red Dragons to 10-10 and 2-3, respectively. Cortland won game one Friday on the back of ace Luis Misla who threw a complete game shutout with 16 strikeouts. SUNY New Paltz took advantage of the Red Dragons' game-two arm of Nick Jessen, going up by two to start the first.
 
On a 1-1 count, former Red Dragon Anthony Pericolosi ripped a solo shot to left field to give SUNY New Paltz a 1-0 lead, registering his team-leading third home run of the season. The Hawks added on in the inning, as Dillon Ristano brought Tommy Kreider home two batters later after Kreider was hit by a pitch during his at-bat.
 
Cortland earned a run back in the bottom of the third, thanks to a lead-off bunt. A fielding error allowed two runners on before the Red Dragons had the bases loaded following a walk. Hawks' Michael Weed dug in and showed some grit to hold onto his team's lead. He forced a foul-out in the next at-bat before allowing a fly-out, which helped one run across. He shut the door on the Red Dragons there, as he fanned the next batter to get out of the inning and keep a 2-1 lead for his team.
  Weed worked until the end of the sixth and allowed just six hits and one run, none earned, with two walks and three strikeouts on 29 batters faced. SUNY New Paltz's bullpen took over and had arguably their most impressive outing of the season. Ryan Knieriemen came in to pitch the seventh and forced a ground out to begin the inning. Cortland earned a base hit, but Knieriemen earned a pop-up and a ground out to close the frame. Knieriemen forced the first out to start the eighth before Matt Sarni came in from short to face the Red Dragons' Zachary Kringdon. Sarni didn't waste any time, as the junior captain got Kringdon swinging on a 2-2 count for the second out of the inning. Following a walk, Sarni finished the eighth on a flyout. The ninth went fast, as SUNY New Paltz were sat down in order before Sarni did the same on consecutive ground outs and a strikeout swinging to secure his first save of the year and seventh of his career.

Weed improved to 3-0 with the win. Kreider, meanwhile, led the team offensively as he went 2-for-3 with a double and two runs scored. Ristano also registered an extra base hit, while going 2-for-3 with an RBI and a walk. Michael Ascanio chipped in with a base hit and RBI.
 
Game two of the originally scheduled doubleheader Saturday was postponed due to pending rain approaching over Cortland, NY. The re-scheduled date for the regular series finale is to be determined.
 
SUNY New Paltz will resume action Wednesday, beginning a four-game home slate at Loren Campbell Field against Hartford before hosting SUNY Oswego for three games April 4-5.


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