Fredonia, NY — After spending the last four days in Fredonia, New York the State University of New York New Paltz finally took on the Blue Devils and earned a seven-inning, 15-2 victory to open up the series.
 
The Hawks improved to 22-11 overall and ended a two-game losing skid, while improving to 10-2 in conference play. They are one win away from matching the most wins in SUNYAC action in program history, which was set last season after the team went 11-7 to clinch the No. 2 seed in the postseason tournament.
 
Kiran Pangankar earned the start and went six innings, allowing just four hits, two earned runs and three walks with a season-high eight strikeouts as he improved his record to 3-1 with Johnny McHugh pitching the seventh and shutting down the side in order in relief.
 
SUNY New Paltz started a two-out rally in the first to go up, 3-0. Michael Ascanio extended the inning with a walk, which was followed consecutive walks by Dillon Ristano and Wallace Kirkpatrick to load the bases. Ryan Mackle then registered an RBI with a base-on-balls as well before Joe Richetti brought Kirkpatrick and Ristano across following a two-RBI swing.
 
The Blue Devils answered with two runs in the bottom half, but Paingankar shut down the side from there as he locked in to pitch a near perfect five-plus after the first. His offense picked him up to start the second, as Anthony Pericolosi got the inning started on a one-out single. Ascani then scored Pericolosi two batters later on an RBI base hit with Ristano adding another across on a ground out, which platted Tommy Kreider to boost the lead to 5-2.
Ascanio helped the cause with a solo shot in the fourth before SUNY New Paltz added two runs in both the fifth and sixth before breaking the game wide open with a five-run seventh inning. McHugh came in and forced three straight outs with back-to-back flyouts before a ground out to Kreider at second closed out the shortened 15-2 result.
 
Ascanio was the catalyst offensively, going 2-for-4 with two runs, three RBI and a walk. Matt Sarni followed, as he solidified the bottom of the order after hitting 2-for-5 with three runs and three RBI. Ryan Muskopf added a hit, run scored and three RBI in relief at first base. Richetti finished with two hits, a run scored, a stolen base and two RBI, while Pericolosi went 3-for-6 with a double, a stolen base and two runs.
 
The Hawks look to conclude their series against Fredonia Monday with a doubleheader starting at 12 p.m. before heading to Cortland for a single game Tuesday. The two teams split its opening doubleheader earlier in the year with the original rubber match postponed due to weather.


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