NP Hawks Sweep Fredonia in SUNYAC Finale

By Colleen Gonzalez

NEW PALTZ – The State University of New York at New Paltz baseball team closed out its weekend with a pair of wins over State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) foe SUNY Fredonia on Sunday afternoon. The Hawks shut out the Blue Devils with a 4-0 victory in game one before taking game two, 4-2.

 The Hawks improve to 14-9-2, 7-5 SUNYAC and will pay a visit to Bard College on Tuesday, April 12 for a 3:30 p.m. non-conference contest. The Blue Devils fall to 9-14, 2-7 SUNYAC and next play Alfred State University on the road on Tuesday April 12 at 3:30 p.m.

Game 1: New Paltz 4, Fredonia 0
 With runners on first and second in the bottom of the second, freshman third baseman/shortstop Danny Campbell pounded out a double to drive in junior left fielder Taylor Anderson and sophomore second baseman Anthony Pantano for a 2-0 cushion.

The Hawks extended their lead to 3-0 in the bottom of the third when senior first baseman Chris Baltera plated a single to bring home sophomore center fielder Jake Williams. The Hawks added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth on a home run by sophomore second baseman Anthony Pantano to take home the win.

 Pantano was 2-for-3 at the plate with two runs and two RBIs while Williams was 2-for-3 with one run.

 Senior shortstop Kyle Sherman, senior catcher Dan Cecilia, freshman designated hitter Kevin Yirinec, and sophomore center fielder Steve Zaprowski combined for Fredonia’s four hits.

 Freshman pitcher Justin Stybel picked up the win, allowing just four hits in five innings of work to improve to 2-0 on the season. Sophomore pitcher Ryan Votypka did not allow a run or a hit off the four batters he faced to earn the save in relief.

 Freshman pitcher Luke Kuczewski took the loss for the Blue Devils, giving up three runs off five hits while striking out three batters.

Game 2: New Paltz 4, Fredonia 2
 Although the Hawks had one out against them in the bottom of the third, freshman shortstop Ryan Frost made quick work of getting on base with a double before advancing to scoring position on a fly out play. Williams then plated a triple to drive in Frost before scoring on a single by sophomore first baseman Anthony Diana to put the Hawks up, 2-0.

 New Paltz looked to extend its lead in the bottom of the sixth as the Hawks loaded the bases but would be sent back to the dugout as the Blue Devils retired Frost and sophomore right fielder Nick DePietro in order.

 Fredonia trimmed the deficit to 2-1 in the top of the seventh as junior second baseman Ciro Frontale scored on a Sherman single but the Hawks added two more runs in the bottom of the eighth when senior catcher Tyler Bell scored on a single by senior third baseman Andrew DiNardo and DiNardo was sent home on a balk committed by junior pitcher Zach Lyman.

 The Blue Devils managed to turn in one more run in the top of the ninth when Yirinec scored on a fielder’s choice but Anderson caught the third out to close the game and seal the Hawks’ second win of the day.

 DiNardo went 2-for-4 at the plate with one run and one RBI while Frost, Anderson, Diana, and DePietro each turned in a 1-for-4 performance at the plate.

 Frontale went 2-for-4 with one run while Sherman was 2-for-5 with one RBI.

 Senior pitcher Christian Huertas gave up one run off seven hits and struck out one batter in 6 2/3 innings to take the win.