Virginia Beach, VA — The State University of New York New Paltz began its 2026 season on the road at Virginia Wesleyan Friday afternoon and fell to hosting Marlins, 8-4.
 
The Hawks (0-1 overall) had a solid day on the mound from ace Michael Weed, who went 5.1 innings only allowing four hits, one walk and three earned runs with four strikeouts.
 
SUNY New Paltz managed seven hits and worked seven walks offensively but couldn't take advantage of runners in scoring position as it left nine runners stranded. Fabian Apicella put his team in great position to take the lead to start the second inning, hitting a lead-off single before stealing second with no outs. Ryan Muskopf moved him over to third in the following at-bat, but the inning stalled with back-to-back pop-outs.
 
The Marlins (3-2) countered with a run in the bottom half, earning a lead-off walk to start the frame. They pushed the run across two batters later on a ground out before placing another runner in scoring position with a double to right. Weed limited the damage though, forcing another ground out to hold the 1-0 difference entering the third.
 
After three scoreless innings from both sides, the Hawks tied the game with a run in the sixth. Apicella started the rally on a two-out walk before Muskopf kept the inning alive on a base hit up the middle. Robert Gregory then registered his first RBI of the season, belting a single to left and scoring Apicella. The Marlins got out of the inning, catching Muskopf trying to steal home on a double steal to hold the game at 1-1.  
Virginia Wesleyan took advantage offensively the second time through the lineup. After a lead-off base hit, Gino Meienscein homered two batters later to give his team a 3-1 advantage with Ryan Knieriemen taking over on the mound for Weed. The pitching change didn't' deter the Marlins, who added two more, as a two-run home run brought the lead to four before back-to-back doubles added another to break the game open at 6-1 entering the seventh.
 
Matt Sarni trimmed the deficit to three with a two-run shot in the seventh. SUNY New Paltz added one more in the eighth, taking advantage of a couple fielding errors from the hosts but the offense stalled there with Virginia Wesleyan piling two more insurance runs in the bottom half to hold onto the Game 1 win.
 
Apicella led the team offensively, going 2-for-2 including a double with two runs, two walks and a stolen base. Sarni followed with two RBI and a run scored on his home run and added a walk. Muskopf went 2-for-2 with Christian Apicella adding a run, RBI and a walk.
 
SUNY New Paltz returns to Perry Field Saturday to conclude its three-game series against Virginia Wesleyan with a doubleheader starting at 11 a.m.


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