PLATTSBURGH – In its first State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) contest of the 2012 regular season, the State University of New York at New Paltz baseball team (11-7, 0-1 SUNYAC) lost on Friday afternoon to host SUNY Plattsburgh (10-6, 3-1 SUNYAC) in a 10-inning thriller, 3-2.
Eight of the nine offensive starters for the Hawks registered hits in the contest, with junior right fielder Thomas Pinnola (North Babylon, N.Y./North Babylon) being the only Hawk to have a multiple-hit outing (2-for-5, one run scored).
New Paltz got on the board first in the top of the second inning. With one out already recorded in the frame, T. Pinnola singled to left field. T. Pinnola later scored on a double by sophomore designated hitter Jimmy Briggs (Lindenhurst, N.Y./Lindenhurst).
Plattsburgh responded in the bottom of the third inning, scoring two runs off junior starting pitcher Chris Chismar (Lindenhurst, N.Y./Lindenhurst) to take a 2-1 lead. In the next half-inning, New Paltz junior third baseman Matt Prescia (Oakdale, N.Y./Connetquot), senior first baseman Jake Cameron (Rockville Centre, N.Y./South Side) and T. Pinnola each hit singles to load the bases. Sophomore catcher David Lostaglio (Milton, N.Y./Marlboro Central) tied the game at 2-2 with a sacrifice fly, bringing in Prescia.
From that point on, the Hawks were unsuccessful in their battle to push another run across home plate against both starter Bobby Piser and eventual winner Mike Doughtie. Doughtie helped the Cardinals get out a sixth inning opened by Lostaglio singling and senior second baseman Chris Paulicelli (Lindenhurst, N.Y./Lindenhurst) doubling to put two runners in scoring position against Piser. After Piser got two outs and hit sophomore Anthony Repetto (North Babylon, N.Y./North Babylon) with a pitch, Doughtie came on to snuff out the attempted Hawk rally by getting senior shortstop Paul Merola (Cornwall-on-Hudson, N.Y./Cornwall) to ground out to second.
Senior relief pitcher John Schmidt (East Islip, N.Y./East Islip) entered in the seventh inning for the Hawks. Chismar left after six innings pitched, only allowing five hits and two runs (one earned) while striking out five.
After nine innings, the score remained knotted at two-all, sending the game into extra innings. T. Pinnola reached second base after an error and a wild pitch, but got no closer to home plate in the inning. The Cardinals earned the home victory with a walk-off single by Casey Brighton, scoring Jon Handy.
Piser took the victory for the Cardinals with 4 1/3 hitless innings pitched in relief, striking out three Hawks while walking one. Schmidt was charged with the loss for New Paltz after 3 2/3 innings pitched with one strikeout and one earned run.
The Hawks finish their season series with the Cardinals on Saturday, March 24, in doubleheader SUNYAC action in Plattsburgh, N.Y. The first pitch of the day is scheduled for 12 p.m.