SALISBURY, Md. – The State University of New York at New Paltz baseball team (1-2) was unable to close out ninth-ranked Salisbury University (5-1) in the late innings, as the Sea Gulls won in walk-off fashion in the bottom of the ninth, taking a 7-6 decision on Sunday afternoon at the SU Baseball Field in a non-conference, nine-inning game.

Salisbury struck first, as Bill Root singled up the middle to lead off the bottom of the first, and Nick Gentry moved him to second by means of a sacrifice bunt. Tyler Bennett then plated Root on the ensuing at-bat to give the Sea Gulls a 1-0 advantage. A hit-by-pitch and an error loaded the bases, which set the stage for a bases-clearing double by Hank Adams to swell the cushion to four runs.

New Paltz, however, responded in a big way in the top of the second, as junior right fielder Thomas Pinnola (North Babylon, N.Y./North Babylon) singled, and sophomore designated hitter Jimmy Briggs (Lindenhurst, N.Y./Lindenhurst) and senior second baseman Chris Paulicelli (Lindenhurst, N.Y./Lindenhurst) reached base by way of a walk and an error, respectively, to load the bags. T. Pinnola ended up scoring on a wild pitch, and junior left fielder Matt Carr (Westbury, N.Y./Long Island Lutheran) reloaded the bases with a walk. Senior shortstop Paul Merola (Cornwall-on-Hudson, N.Y./Cornwall) drew a walk to push across Briggs, and junior third baseman Matt Prescia (Oakdale, N.Y./Connetquot) brought in Paulicelli off a sacrifice fly to make the score 4-3. After Salisbury made a pitching change, junior catcher Matt Kaldon (Montgomery, N.Y./Valley Central) singled to center field to knot the tally at 4-all.

New Paltz tacked onto its lead in the fourth, as Carr scored off a sacrifice fly by senior first baseman Jake Cameron (Rockville Centre, N.Y./South Side). Paulicelli pushed across Cameron in the sixth off a single to give the Hawks a 6-4 lead, but the Sea Gulls answered back, scoring runs in the seventh and eighth innings to tie the game at 6-all.

After the Hawks were held scoreless in the top of the ninth, Gentry led off the home half of the inning with a single. Bennett walked on a full count to put two men on, but senior pitcher Nick Monaco (Medford, N.Y./Patchogue-Medford) struck out Chris Connor to record the first out of the inning. Johnny Schiotis walked to load the bases for Adams. Freshman pitcher Mike Sparacino (Commack, N.Y./Commack) came in to relieve Monaco, but Adams ripped a walk-off single to left field off the first pitch he saw, and Salisbury escaped with the 7-6 win.

Sophomore pitcher James McKenna (Bohemia, N.Y./Connetquot) got the start on the bump for New Paltz, lasting five innings and yielding four runs—three of which were earned—off five hits, two walks and a hit-by-pitch. McKenna also boasted two strikeouts. Junior pitcher Michael Pinnola (North Babylon, N.Y./North Babylon) threw three innings in relief and surrendered two runs—one of which was earned—off two hits, a walk and a hit-by-pitch, while Monaco gave up one run in one-third of an inning. Monaco was charged with the loss.

Salisbury's starter, Jeff Hoffman, only tossed 1 2/3 innings and gave up four runs—two of which were earned—off three hits and three walks while striking out two. Five relief pitchers ate up the final 6 2/3 frames, with Stephen Miller gaining the win.

Merola, Prescia and Kaldon fortified the 2-through-4 spots in the lineup, as each went 2-for-4 with an RBI. Carr's speed was rewarded with two runs scored, as he went hitless but still managed to find ways to get on base. Root led Salisbury with a 3-for-5 performance at the dish, scoring twice, while Adams batted 3-for-5 with four RBI.

New Paltz is idle next weekend and returns to action on Saturday, March 10, as it takes on SUNY Purchase at 12 p.m. in a non-conference doubleheader.