Knights Drop Non-Conference Doubleheader

WAPPINGERS FALLS – The Mount Saint Mary College Baseball team returned to action on Monday with a pair of non-conference losses to New Paltz, falling to the Hawks by scores of 11-4 and 2-1. Freshman Nick Rizzo scored a pair of runs in the opener, while sophomore Christopher Ruggiero fired a complete game in the backend of the set.

Game 1: New Paltz 11 – Mount Saint Mary 4

The Knights scored the first three runs of game one Monday after plating a single run in the first inning and a pair of runs in the third. Vincenzo Pepe pushed home the opening run of the game with a bases loaded walk and scored a run in the third on a two-out single from Peter Knights.

New Paltz rallied in the fourth with three runs to tie the score when Savino Citriniti cleared the bases with a double to right field, but the Knights came right back in the home half of the frame to regain a one run lead when Rizzo scampered home on a wild pitch.

After jumping in front by a run, Mount Saint Mary saw New Paltz score in its next four at-bats, including three runs in the sixth and two runs each in the seventh and eighth innings. Citriniti drove in another run in the big sixth inning and Tyler Laco doubled home a run for the Hawks in the seventh.

Mount Saint Mary was outhit in the game 13-7 with Rizzo finishing up 2-for-5 with a pair of runs and two stolen bases out of the leadoff spot. Christopher Introcaso and Pepe each scored a run with Introcaso drawing three walks in the game for the Mount.

Chris Moran finished game one 2-for-4 with three runs scored for New Paltz, while Citriniti went 3-for-5 with two runs and four RBI for the Hawks. New Paltz had seven different players with a double in the game and seven players with a run and a hit.

Jake Stewart suffered the loss for the Mount and fell to 0-2 on the season. He surrendered five earned runs on nine hits while striking out one for the Knights. Sal Rizzo struck out two batters in a scoreless inning of relief in his collegiate debut.

Brian LoRusso earned the win in relief for New Paltz. He came on to work 3.2 scoreless innings of relief, allowing one run and fanning five.

Game 2: New Paltz 2 – Mount Saint Mary 1

The Knights jumped out in front early in game two on Monday, scoring in their first at-bat for the second time on the day. Rizzo led off the inning by reaching on an error and later came around to score the team’s only run on a fielder’s choice for the early one run advantage.

New Paltz evened the score with an unearned run in the second and plated the eventual go ahead run in the fourth. The l game winning run came home on a double play turned with the bases loaded and no one out.

Game two featured just six total hits, with the Knights collecting four. Matthew Kozireski, Introcaso, Pepe and Knights all singled for the Mount in game two with Rizzo scoring the team’s lone run and swiping another base.

Ruggiero worked a complete game, allowing a single earned run on just two base hits. He struck out five New Paltz batters and walked four in falling to 0-2. Connor Donachie picked up his second win of the year with 6.0 innings of work that included six strikeouts.

Monday’s sweep drops Mount Saint Mary to 2-5 overall on the season.