SUNY NP Baseball Clinch Series Win Over Oneonta

By Ian Kramer

Oneonta – The State University of New York at New Paltz concluded its three game series Saturday with a 14-7 win over Oneonta.

The Hawks (15-10 overall) looked to win the rubber game of the series after splitting Friday’s double header. Fabian Apicella and Tommy Kreider continued their hot hitting, while the starting pitching limited the Red Dragons to three runs.

On Saturday, SUNY New Paltz didn’t wait a few innings to get the scoring started. The runs came early when Kreider lined a single to third putting a runner on base two batters into the game, and extending his hitting streak to six games. Michael Ascanio exchanged bases with Kreider as he grounded into a fielder’s choice for the second out. Next batter Anthony Pericolosi walked, pushing Ascanio into scoring position. With two on and one out, Ascanio singled to second and loaded the bases for Dillon Ristano. The pitches did not find the strike zone and Ristano picked up a bases-loaded walk and pushed Ascanio across with the first run of the game. Justin Harvey made sure to add on with some two-out hitting, and promptly lined a base knock to center to score Michael Boccarossa and Pericolosi, making it a 3-0 SUNY New Paltz lead.

Right-hander Robert Gregory was on the mound Saturday looking for his third win of the year. In the top of the first, Gregory retired the first two Red Dragons with a lineout to second and a fly ball to center. With two outs and no one on, Gregory looked to have a shutdown inning. Oneonta had other plans and reached base with a base on balls. Next batter extended the inning with a single to center, moving the runner into scoring position.

A good eye loaded the bases with a walk, and Gregory was suddenly in a bases loaded two out jam. Gregory buckled down, and a ground ball to second got the Hawks out of the inning.

In the bottom of the second, Gregory surrendered a lead off walk. The runner then stole second to put a runner in scoring position. Kreider committed an error putting two runners on with no one out. The bunting game continued from Friday into Saturday, as Oneonta pushed a SAC to load the bases. Gregory reared back, retiring the next two on a groundout and a strikeout swinging. With the bases remaining loaded, Gregory forced in a run, cutting the lead to 3-1. The Hawks managed to escape on a fly out with only one run surrendered.
SUNY New Paltz added on in the top of the fifth when Joe Ritchetti led off with a walk.

Richetti headed for second and got in safely with a stolen base. Kreider then followed with a walk of his own, which put two runners on with no one out. A wild pitch to Ascanio moved both runners into scoring position and allowed a golden opportunity for the Hawks to add on. Ascanio walked, and the bases were loaded.

The Red Dragons moved to their bullpen for a new arm. First batter faced, Pericolosi grounded into a fielder’s choice. Richetti was out at home, but the bases still remained loaded. Boccarossa stepped up and roped a double to center field to score Ascanio and Kreider, giving SUNY New Paltz a 5-1 lead. Right after, Ristano took advantage of two runners on base and grounded a base knock to drive in two. Nick Harvey then walked and moved Ristano to second. Next batter Justin Harvey lined one to center to score Ristano and extend the lead to seven.

Apicella continued his hot hitting weekend, knocking a single to center to plate Nick Harvey.

Oneonta went to its bullpen again as SUNY New Paltz batted around. Richetti grounded into a fielder’s choice and moved to second on an error at second. Justin Harvey came in to score and extended the lead to 10-1.

With a nine run cushion, Gregory set down the first batter in the fifth on a fly out to left.

The Red Dragons got a runner on with a walk. Both runners moved into scoring position on a wild pitch. Oneonta cashed in and hit a two RBI base hit to left cutting the deficit to 10-3.

Dylan Hayes came in for relief, making his sixth appearance of the season. Hayes plunked the first batter, but recovered with a strikeout looking.

In the top of the sixth, Pericolosi led off and reached base on error at third and advanced to second on a fielder’s choice by Boccarossa. Ristano followed with a walk, loading the bases with no one out. Two batters later, Justin Harvey hit a sacrifice fly to left, scoring Pericolosi and extending the lead to 11-3. Apicella continued to get hits, cracked a base hit to right to drive in Boccarossa. Oneonta went to its bullpen, and balked. Richetti then lined a two RBI single to center to plate Apicella and Ristano.

Hayes stayed in for the bottom of the sixth and allowed a leadoff walk. The next batter was his last as he gave up a single to right. Connor Olson came in for relief, making his 10th appearance of the year. The first batter Olson faced cracked a three-run homer, cutting the deficit to 14-6. Olson had trouble in the inning, as he allowed back-to-back walks and plunked a batter. Matt Sarni took over in relief, making his 12th appearance of the season.

Sarni recorded the first out on a foul-out. The Red Dragons watched four balls go past and plated their seventh run of the game. Sarni locked in and picked up the strikeout swinging, getting out of the inning with a seven-run cushion.

Sarni stayed on for the bottom of the ninth. Sarni picked up two quick outs on a foul-out and a ground out. Oneonta extended the inning with a single to right. One out away, Sarni induced a fly out to short. Kreider secured it, clinching the 14-7 Hawks win and the series win.

Gregory was handed his third win of the season after going four and two thirds innings, giving up just three hits, three runs, two of which were earned, five walks with three strikeouts.

Richetti went 2-for-5 with two RBI. Kreider went 2-for-4 with two walks. Pericolosi went 1-for-5 with three runs scored. Boccarossa went 2-for-4 with two RBI and three runs scored. Ristano went 1-for-3 with three RBI and three walks. Every batter for SUNY New Paltz reached base.