Montclair, NJ — The State University of New York New Paltz fell on the road to No. 29 ranked Montclair State 16-4 Tuesday afternoon.
 
The Hawks (6-5 overall) opened with a 2-0 lead after the top of the first, but the nationally ranked Red Hawks (12-3) countered with eight in the bottom half and SUNY New Paltz chased the rest of the way with the hosts staying hot offensively to pad onto the cushion until a four-run sixth all but cemented the comfortable 12-run victory.
 
Matt Sarni led off the game with a base hit on his second pitch faced for the Hawks. He stole second before advancing to third on a Ryan Muskopf dropped third strike two batters later. He then registered another stolen base, getting a good lead before racing home for the game's first run. Johnny McHugh plated SUNY New Paltz's second run of the game as he lifted a ball to left to score Yanthony Diaz who pinch run for Mukopf.
 
Xavier Zykoff earned the start for the Hawks and struggled in the outing, as an error in right began the barrage for Montclair. A two-run homer ensued with the Red Hawks getting three consecutive batters on with a triple, hit-by-pitch and RBI double. Zykoff struck out the next batter for the first out, but the hosts continued to pounce, delivering another triple that scored two more before an RBI base hit up the gut allowed another to return home. Zykoff had trouble with his control, walking then hitting another batter before he was replaced by Austin Barrett, but the Red Hawks weren't done. They tacked on two more on a balk and then a wild pitch before a fly out finally ended the inning.  
Albany transfer Louis Kaleb picked up his team in the top of the second, leading off with a double on the first pitch he saw. Joe Richetti then brought him home with a triple to right, using his speed to extend to three bases. Sarni grounded out to score Richetti but the threat ended there.
 
SUNY New Paltz's offense were blanked the rest of the game, while Montclair meticulously added on in the third, fourth and fifth before breaking the game open in the fourth to take a 16-4 lead. The Hawks had no answer in the seventh as the Red Hawks closed the side in four batters to end the game in just seven innings played.
 
Sarni (2-3, 1 run, 1 RBI), Wallace Kirkpatrick (2-3), Kaleb (2-3, 1 run) and Richetti (2-2, 1 run, 1 RBI, 1 BB) each had multiple hits to lead the offense with Sarni also contributing two stolen bases.
 
SUNY New Paltz is back in action this weekend to open SUNYAC play against Fredonia starting Friday at 3 p.m. on Loren Campbell Field.


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