New Paltz, NY — The State University of New York New Paltz held its home opener Saturday on Mary Gray Deane Field against Farmingdale State and split its doubleheader series after coming back from a 4-3 loss to win in walk-off fashion in game two, 8-7.
 
Lauren Serrao ended as the game two hero, starting the seventh with a lead-off triple on a liner that sailed just over the glove of the Rams' right-fielder. Serrao used her speed to round the bases, landing on third and setting up Jackie Rometo for a walk off. Rometo got the job done as she sailed a long fly ball to left, allowing Serrao to come home for the game-winning run.
 
The Hawks showed its resiliency after brushing off a tough game one loss where they led until the seventh. SUNY New Paltz took a 2-0 lead in the first off of a two-run bomb by Ella Sharrock in the first and added an insurance run in the bottom of the third following an error by Farmingdale that allowed Rometo to come home. The Rams earned a run back in the sixth before rallying for three more in the seventh, which decided the game.
 
The Rams started the inning with a pinch-hit single before a double brought a run home with Farmingdale showing some heads-up base running on the play, scoring on the throw in to tie the game. A walk on the next at-bat placed the go-ahead run on with the Rams getting the job done on a sacrifice bunt. SUNY New Paltz was then sat down 1-2-3 to end the game suffering its seventh-straight defeat.
 
Sydney Waldon was given the loss for the Hawks, as she pitched the full seven innings and gave up six hits, four earned runs, five walks with three strikeouts. Sharrock led the way offensively, going 2-for-3 with a run, a walk and two RBI. Rometo finished 2-for-4 with a double and a run, while Kelsey O'Brien also went 2-for-4 with a triple and a run scored. The two hits also pushed the junior to the 100 hits mark for her career and left Saturday just 28 away to crack the top 10 all time in program history. Sitting atop the list, however, is Rometo who with 176 career hits passed SUNY New Paltz Hall of Famer Lauren Motzkin who held the record since 2008.
 
 
The Hawks climbed out of a 5-0 hole to start game two with a four-run fourth inning. Serrao led off the frame with a base hit and after Rometo was hit by a pitch, O'Brien struck an RBI base-hit to plate Serrao to break the shutout. Sharrock loaded the bases on a single before Mallory Rohon brought O'Brien and Rometo home on a two RBI base hit to cut the score to 5-3. Alyssa Zangrilli capped the inning, hitting in Sharrock on a base hit to get SUNY New Paltz within one.
 
Emmie Mae Cabrera scored Rometo in the bottom of the fourth to tie the score at 5-5 before Zangrilli gave the Hawks a 6-5 lead on the next at-bat with an RBI base hit to score O'Brien from second.  
Rometo added an insurance run in the fifth on an RBI double to right center, easily scoring a speedy Michaela Bridgwood who earned a pinch-hit walk to start the inning. Farmingdale countered in the top of the fifth though, tying the game at 7-all. A walk started the inning with the Rams getting into scoring position with a steal. The run was plated on a ground out and they capped the inning with an RBI base hit to tie the score before a foul-out allowed the Hawks into the seventh for a chance win in walk-off fashion.
 
Serrao wasted no time, as she pulled the third pitch of the at-bat for her first triple of the season and Rometo did the rest to secure SUNY New Paltz its fourth victory of the season.
 
Leah Gunsett was given the win, the first of the season, improving her record to 1-5. She pitched the full seven innings, giving up six hits, seven earned runs with five walk and four strikeouts. Rometo led the team offensively, going 2-for-2 with two runs, two RBI and a walk. Sharrock went 2-for-4 with a run, while Serrao finished 2-for-3 with two runs. Zangrilli and Cabrera both finished 2-for-4 with O'Brien adding two runs and an RBI.
 
SUNY New Paltz heads back to Mary Gray Deane Field Wednesday for a doubleheader against Skidmore starting at 3 p.m. before beginning SUNYAC play on the road against Oswego April 4.  
 
 

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