Hackettstown, NJ — The State University of New York New Paltz opened up its three-game series against the hosting Cyclones of Centenary and fell in a tough 6-3 loss following a two-out, bottom of the ninth walk-off grand slam.
 
Michael Weed earned the start for the Hawks (1-2 overall) and had a stout outing, going six innings, giving up just four hits and two earned runs with five strikeouts in the no decision.
 
Matt Sarni and Ryan Muskopf provided the offense needed to give SUNY New Paltz a 3-2 advantage after the seventh. Sarni tied the game in the fifth, knocking a two-out base hit to bring home Luca Sieger home for the team's first run, knotting the score at 1-1. After Centenary (1-2) plated one across in the sixth to re-gain the lead, the Hawks rallied in the seventh.
 
Louis Kaleb took the first pitch he saw and lined a hit to left to start the frame. Sarni then added another runner on with no outs, as he patiently earned a walk on a full count. Fabian Apicella loaded the bases on the ensuing at-bat, getting hit by a pitch with Muskopf coming through with a two-RBI rip to center field that platted Sarni and Kaleb to push SUNY New Paltz ahead, 3-2. The Cyclones managed the damage, however, as a double-play ground ball helped the hosts get out of the inning following another ground out to hold the deficit to one.
 
Dylan Hayes replaced Weed on the mound to try and close out with a save. He saw just four batters combined in the seventh and eighth, not giving up a run until the ninth. The Hawks had an opportunity themselves in the ninth to add a cushion, as Sarni slapped a double down the left field line with Muskopf getting on following a hit-by-pitch, but a flyout closed out the top half with the score remaining at 3-2.  
A bases loaded, one-out walk started the rally for Centenary. Hayes earned a second out on a strikeout looking, but a tough out by the Cyclones Simeon Reed kept the inning alive. Hayes got ahead in the count, but back-to-back balls — one in the dirt and then outside — loaded the bases. Reed fouled off four-straight pitches before letting a ball low and outside go by, resulting in a walk to load the bases.
 
A righty-on-righty matchup as Centenary's Dominick Chiego walked into the batter's box, Hayes got up 0-1 before throwing two balls on the following pitches. The next leaned high and inside and Chiego turned on the pitch, clearing the ball over the left-field fence for the walk-off grand slam.
 
Hayes suffered his first loss of the season, after allowing one hit, four walks and four earned runs with two strikeouts in 2.2 innings of work. Offensively, Sarni led the way after going 2-for-3 with a double, a run scored, two walks and an RBI. Muskopf followed, finishing 2-for-3 with two RBI and two stolen bases. Kaleb and Sieger each had a hit and run scored, while Apicella added a walk and stolen base.
 
SUNY New Paltz returns to Our Diamond of Dreams field in Hackettstown, New Jersey to conclude its three-game series against the Cyclones with a doubleheader Saturday starting at 11 a.m.
 

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