New Paltz, NY — The State University of New York New Paltz closed out the regular season with a series sweep of Oneonta following an 11-4 victory Saturday morning on Loren Campbell Field.
 
The day was highlighted by history, as Hawks senior Tommy Kreider continued to build upon a storied legacy as the best player to ever suit up for the orange and blue. The New City, NY native added to his decorated resume and became the program's all-time hits leader Saturday, surpassing 2007 alum John Dekams who had totaled 210 throughout his illustrious career. With the feat, Kreider holds all-time records in hits, stolen bases, runs and total bases, along with holding single season records for runs, hits, doubles, total bases, on-base-percentage and stolen bases.
 
The feat came just a day after SUNY New Paltz swept the Red Dragons in a Friday doubleheader where Kreider ripped a walk-off in Game 2 to clinch a 10-inning, 5-4 win. The Hawks offense continued to thrive in the rubber match Saturday, producing 11 hits and 11 RBI as a team. They picked up starter Xavier Zykoff in the bottom of the first after the junior let up a hit-by-pitch and two-run home run on his first two pitches thrown.
 
Michael Ascanio started the two-out rally in the first, rocketing a double to left and the bases were quickly loaded on a walk and hit-by-pitch. Oneonta struggled finding the zone as another hit-by-pitch brought the first run across, which was then followed with two more walks to hand SUNY New Paltz the lead. Matt Sarni was then plunked, allowing the hosts to add one more to its advantage before a pitching change allowed Oneonta to get out of the jam.
 
 
Zykoff settled in and put up zeros on the scoreboard in the following three innings, while the Hawks built on their advantage with runs in the second, third and fourth to earn an 8-2 cushion entering the fifth. Sarni aided in the run, as he smacked a two RBI single to right that scored Fabian Apicella and Dillon Ristano who each earned free bases during their at-bats.  
A solo home run in the fifth gave the Red Dragons some life, but they were limited to a single run, which came in the ninth, by the Hawks' bullpen the rest of the way. SUNY New Paltz, meanwhile, kept its bats hot as a three-run eighth all but put the game away. Ristano led off with a base hit to left with Oneonta loading the bases on a walk to Mackle and a hit-by-pitch by Wallace Kirpatrick. Apicella hit a long fly ball to the center field fence that scored a run on the sacrifice, before Alex Ouelette came through with an RBI double that plated Kirkpatrick. Kreider capped the offense with his final hit of the day, cementing his spot in history once more as he ripped a hard hit to the left middle infield for his 211th hit of his career to surpass DeKams, while, fittingly, adding a run to aid in the 11-4 outcome for his team.
 
Kreider led the way offensively, going 3-for-5 with a run and two RBI, including a stolen base and hit-by-pitch. Ristano had a hit, and three runs scored with two walks. Ascanio registered two doubles as he went 2-for-6 with a run and an RBI, while Sarni finished 2-for-4 with a run and three RBI to solidify the bottom of the order.
 
Zykoff went 3.1 innings, allowing three hits, two earned runs and two walks with a strikeout. Johnny McHugh then followed in relief, throwing 2.1 innings, allowing three hits, one earned run and a walk while given the win to improve his record to 4-1 on the year. Sarni pitched the final 3.1 innings to earn the save, while allowing just two hits, an earned run with no walks and a strikeout.
 
SUNY New Paltz awaits the result of the series between Cortland and Canton to determine seeding for the postseason tournament, which is set to begin at the top seed's home field starting Thursday. The SUNYAC Tournament schedule is to be announced by the conference office Monday.
 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by New Paltz Hawks (@newpaltzhawks)

******************
To stay up to date with everything #NPHawks be sure to follow us on Twitter at @nphawks, Instagram and Facebook at @newpaltzhawks, and subscribe to our Youtube channel, New Paltz Hawks.