Hawks Earn Doubleheader Sweep of Plattsburgh

By Monica D’Ippolito

PLATTSBURGH – The State University of New York New Paltz earned a doubleheader sweep on the road over Plattsburgh Friday after clinching an 8-1 and 15-4 victory on Chip Cummings Field.

The Hawks improved to 19-8 overall following the two victories, while the Cardinals dropped to 6-12 with SUNY New Paltz landing in the top two on the conference leader board with the two teams concluding their three-game series Saturday.

The Hawks’ freshmen arms showed out once again in Game 1, as Kiran Painganker earned the start and improved to 2-1 on the year after tossing seven innings, giving up just five hits, one run — none earned — with eight strikeouts in 25 batters faced. Tyler Lopez came in to throw the last two innings and didn’t give up a hit or run, just one walk with two strikeouts to close out the victory.

SUNY New Paltz gave its young pitching staff run support early, scoring two in the top of the first. Tommy Kreider got the frame started, knocking a one-out single through the right side of the infield. He advanced to second after Michael Ascanio was hit by a pitch before he moved himself over after stealing third. A wild pitch allowed both runners to advance with Kreider crossing home for the game’s first run. Wallace Kirkpatrick then added on, as he struck a two-out RBI single to plate Ascanio to push the lead to 2-0.

Kreider scored again in the third, as he was given a free base on a hit-by-pitch to lead off the inning. Dillon Ristano eventually brought him home on a sacrifice fly two batters later.

Kreider rounded the bases once again in the seventh, as the Hawks answered Plattsburgh’s run scored in the bottom of the fifth which cut the difference to two. Anthony Pericolosi and Kreider landed on second and third after going back-to-back with a double and single, respectively. Ascanio then came through on the next at-bat and cracked a two-RBI double to center to bring the lead to 5-1. Kirkpatrick notched another RBI as he found a gap in left center to bring Ascanio home to cap the inning and extend the cushion to five.

SUNY New Paltz added two more insurance runs in the eighth to help seal the win. The top of the order produced once again for the Hawks, as Ascanio and Ristano each registered an RBI in consecutive at-bats to help solidify the 8-1 outcome.

Ascanio was the catalyst in Game 1 against his former team. He went 2-for-4 with two runs and a game-high three RBI, including a double and two stolen bases. Kreider went 2-for-4 with three RBI, a double, and two stolen bases as well, while Kirkpatrick went 2-for-5 with two RBI.

SUNY New Paltz trailed to start Game 2, but an explosive eight-run sixth inning broke the game open, leading to a 15-4 rout in just eight innings played.

Michael Weed secured the win for the Hawks, throwing six innings and allowing only four hits, three runs — two earned — with three walks and eight strikeouts to improve his record to 4-1 overall. Scott Scheppy pitched the last two innings and yielded two hits, one run, two walks with one strikeout.

SUNY New Paltz trailed 3-0 until getting on the board in the fifth. Kreider kept the inning alive with a two-out single and pushed himself into scoring position after successfully stealing second. Ascanio took advantage, smacking an RBI base hit to center field to score Kreider. The momentum carried over into the sixth where SUNY New Paltz tallied six hits in the inning to grab a 9-3 lead.

Joe Richetti started the frame with a single to right and Ryan Mackle followed with a base hit. Richetti cut the difference to one after scoring on an errant pick-off throw, trying to get Mackle at second. After a walk by Fabian Apicella, Ryan Muskopf laid down a bunt to load the bases, setting the table for Matt Sarni who brought everyone home on a three RBI double down the left field line. Pericolosi continued the rally, hitting an RBI base hit up the middle to score Sarni with Ascanio bringing in another run two batters later, finding another gap in center to score Pericolosi. Ascanio came home from third on a wild pitch after a Dillon Ristano walk loaded the bases.

SUNY New Paltz put the finishing touches on the win, scoring six more in the eighth.

Muskopf, Kreider, Ascanio and Ristano all registered RBIs in the stanza to help end the game early following a 10-plus run lead, which Scheppy helped secure in the bottom half after allowing just one across.

Ascanio finished a prolific day by leading the team offensively, going 4-for-5 with two runs and a game-high three RBI, including a double and two stolen bases. Kreider went 3-for-5 with three runs, an RBI, a double and three stolen bases, while Pericolosi went 3-for-6 with two runs, a double and an RBI. The senior also registered career-hit 100 in the game to highlight the afternoon.