Mahwah, NJ — The State University of New York New Paltz suffered just its ninth loss of the year, falling 5-1 on the road to defending NJAC Champion Ramapo Tuesday on Jeff Maund Field.
 
The loss put an end to a five-game winning streak for the Hawks who dropped to 20-9 overall, while the Roadrunners improved to 21-7.
 
It was a low scoring affair through most of the game until Ramapo created some breathing room with a three-run eighth inning. Matt Sarni had a solid outing through five innings, allowing just three hits, two earned runs and three walks with two strikeouts, but the Hawks offense mustered just four hits, and a run scored.
 
Ramapo took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first after leading off with a double. Sarni managed three straight outs, but the Roadrunners took advantage of the runner in scoring position, getting him across on a one-out ground out. They led off the second inning with a double once again, but Sarni worked out of the jam to strand the runner at third following a line out, strikeout and ground out.
 
Ramapo started the third with a lead-off walk and worked its way 90 feet to home on back-to-back steals. A ground out brought the run across, and the Roadrunners followed with a double. Once again, Sarni limited the damage though, getting two straight outs on a strikeout swinging and a ground out.  
SUNY New Paltz answered in the top of the fourth, taking advantage of an Anthony Pericolosi lead-off walk. Tommy Kreider was next in the batter's box and ripped a double to right with Pericolosi holding at third. Michael Ascanio helped Pericolosi home on an RBI ground out, but the Hawks were unable to add on as the Roadrunners earned the last two outs on a strikeout and ground out to strand Kreider at third.

Ramapo threatened in the fifth, as Sarni gave up consecutive one-out walks, but he got out of the inning on a 4-6-3 double play on a ground out to Ryan Mackle at second. The hosts stranded three more runners in the sixth, as Tyler Lopez came in for Sarni to earn the last two outs and leaving the bases loaded while keeping the 2-1 score.
 
The Roadrunners finally broke through in the eighth. They led off with a single to center and then rallied with two outs following a walk and a two-RBI double. Another RBI base hit ensued to create a four-run cushion with Lopez getting the final out on a grounder to Mackle at second.
 
Fabian Apicella gave SUNY New Paltz life to start the top of the ninth, ripping a lead-off double to center field, but the Hawks couldn't capitalize as they flew out to center on back-to-back at-bats before a ground out concluded the game.
 
Kreider led the way offensively, going 2-for-4 with Ascanio coming up with an RBI and a base hit.
 
SUNY New Paltz returns home Wednesday to host Vassar College at 4 p.m. at Loren Campbell Field.


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