New Paltz, NY — The State University of New York New Paltz lost for just the second time in the last eight games as it fell 6-5 in 10 innings Friday on Loren Campbell Field.
 
The Hawks out-hit the Huskies 13-8 but left 12 runners on base unable to get timely hits throughout the game. They were chasing the lead from the opening inning, as West Conn earned a 3-1 advantage following the first.
 
SUNY New Paltz got within one in the fifth, as Tommy Kreider got the offense started in the frame with a one-out double. He advanced over on a balk and a ground out by Michael Ascanio brought Kreider home to cut the score, 3-2.
 
Offense went stale for both teams until the ninth, but the Hawks had a prime opportunity in the eighth inning to add more to the scoreboard. Joe Richetti and Fabian Apicella hit back-to-back base knocks with one out. Ryan Mackle flew out to right and advanced both runners into scoring position, but the two were stranded as the inning ended on another fly out to center to keep the visitors out in front by one.
 
The Huskies added a run in the top of the ninth, helped by a hit-by-pitch. An errant throw trying to catch West Conn stealing allowed a base runner onto third and the visitors took advantage, as a sacrifice fly to right scored one more. The Hawks, as they've shown all season, were resilient and answered in the bottom of the ninth. Anthony Pericolosi led off with a double, followed by a walk from Kreider. A double steal placed them both in scoring position and Dillon Ristano came through on a sacrifice flyout to right two batters later to trim the difference to one. Wallace Kirkpatrick came up with the clutch hit, belting an RBI single to get Kreider home and knot the score at 4-4, ultimately forcing extra innings.
 
 
West Conn showed its own resiliency in the bonus minutes of play, as it started the 10th with consecutive base hits. A hit-by-pitch a batter later loaded the bases with one out. Xavier Zykoff, who started the inning for Michael Weed, forced a flyout in the next at-bat narrowly getting out of the jam but he had trouble finding his control on the next two batters, hitting both to score the go-ahead run. Jason Wall came in to replace Zykoff and gave up one more on a sacrifice fly but closed out the inning on a flyout to center on the following at-bat.  
Matt Sarni continued the run with a base hit with Ryan Muskopf, running for Mackle, advancing over to third on the play. Pericolosi brought Muskopf home on a fielder's choice with Sarni out at second. Pericolosi placed himself in scoring position though with a stolen base with reigning All-American Kreider up to the plate, but Kreider couldn't continue the magic striking out to end the game.
 
Pericolosi finished with a double, two runs, a stolen base and an RBI. Kreider tallied a double, two runs and two walks, while Ristano, Kirkpatrick, Richetti, Apicella and Sarni each added two hits apiece.
 
Weed pitched most of the game, coming in to relieve starter Kiran Paingankar in the fourth and tossed six innings, giving up two hits, one run and one walk with five strikeouts. Zykoff was handed the loss giving up two hits and two runs scored.
 
SUNY New Paltz is back home Wednesday, hosting Union on Loren Campbell Field at 4 p.m. before it goes on the road to resume SUNYAC play for a three-game series against SUNY Fredonia April 25-26.
 

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