NEW PALTZ, N.Y. – After dropping a 4-2, 11 inning decision to State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) opponent SUNY Oneonta (13-11, 6-4 SUNYAC) in game one of doubleheader action, the State University of New York at New Paltz baseball team (15-10, 3-4 SUNYAC) won game two in dramatic fashion, 11-7, courtesy of a walk-off grand slam by sophomore catcher/designated hitter David Lostaglio (Milton, N.Y./Marlboro Central) on Saturday afternoon. The seven-inning Hawk victory in game two capped off the three-game series between the SUNYAC opponents at Loren Campbell Memorial Field.
Lostaglio's long bomb over the right field wall put a cap on his 4-for-11 day, in which the sophomore scored two runs and earned four RBI, with all four coming on his walk-off blast. Junior center fielder Matt Carr (Westbury, N.Y./Long Island Lutheran) and senior first baseman Jake Cameron (Rockville Centre, N.Y./South Side) each hit a home run of their own in game two, both of which came in the sixth inning of the comeback effort. Cameron hit 6-for-9 between the two games, netting three RBI and a run scored. Carr went 5-for-11 on the day, including a 4-for-5 effort in the late game with four RBI and three runs scored.
The Hawks struck first in game two with back-to-back doubles by Lostaglio and Cameron to spot New Paltz an early 1-0 lead. That run was matched by the Red Dragons in the third inning when Ivan Plata singled to right-center field, later advancing to third base when a bunt single by Kevin Knack caused a Hawk throwing error. Plata crossed the plate courtesy of a sacrifice fly by Chris Massaroni to center field, tying the game at 1-all.
The Red Dragons' offense exploded for a five-run fourth frame, scoring two runs on a home run by Cody Hitt, an RBI single by Plata and a two-RBI double by Massaroni to take a 6-1 lead.
New Paltz got another run on the board in the bottom of the fifth inning with a Cameron single through the left side, knocking in Carr, who led off the inning with a double to center field. Oneonta got that run back in the top of the sixth with a Plata sacrifice fly, scoring Rob Peluso. Peluso led off the inning by getting hit by a pitch and then stealing second before advancing to third on a fielding error prior to the sacrifice fly.
From that point on, the Hawks scored nine unanswered runs in the final two frames of the seven-inning nightcap. Senior second baseman Chris Paulicelli (Lindenhurst, N.Y./Lindenhurst) walked to start the rally and was followed soon after by a single through the left side by sophomore left fielder Anthony Repetto (North Babylon, N.Y./North Babylon). Carr then sent a three-run home run over the wall in left-center field. One batter later, Cameron followed Carr over the left-field wall, closing the Hawk deficit to just a 7-6 margin.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, three straight walks to junior third baseman Matt Prescia (Oakdale, N.Y./Connetquot), senior shortstop Paul Merola (Cornwall-on-Hudson, N.Y./Cornwall) and sophomore pinch hitter Jimmy Briggs (Lindenhurst, N.Y./Lindenhurst) loaded the bases. With one out remaining for the Hawks, Carr singled to shortstop to tie the game, scoring sophomore pinch runner Kenny Gentile (Lindenhurst, N.Y./Lindenhurst). In the next at-bat, Lostaglio hit his walk-off grand slam on a 1-0 count, sending both the New Paltz bench and Hawk cheering section into a frenzy.
Sophomore reliever Chris Pyz (Kings Park, N.Y./Kings Park) earned the victory for the Hawks in one inning of relief. Senior starting pitcher John Schmidt (East Islip, N.Y./East Islip) and sophomore reliever James McKenna (Bohemia, N.Y./Connetquot) each earned no-decisions for their combined six innings of work. Jarred Bronley, who came in to begin the seventh inning for Oneonta, took the loss in two-thirds of an inning pitched.
Earlier in the day, in game one, junior starting pitcher Chris Chismar (Lindenhurst, N.Y./Lindenhurst) made his first start since March 23 and hurled nine innings of four-hit ball, striking out 14 Red Dragons while only walking one. The Hawks spotted Chismar a 1-0 lead in the second inning with a solo-home run by Prescia. That lead stretched to 2-0 in the bottom of the sixth inning. In the frame, junior right fielder Thomas Pinnola (North Babylon, N.Y./North Babylon) reached base after being hit by a pitch and advanced to second base on a failed pickoff attempt. The right fielder came around to score on a ground-rule double by Merola.
The Red Dragons tied game one in the top of the seven inning after a Kevin Knack two-run home run scored both himself and Plata, who singled to start the inning. After multiple scoreless innings and a Hawk pitching change to senior reliever Nick Monaco (Medford, N.Y./Patchogue-Medford), Oneonta was able to plate two runs off a balk and a wild pitch to go up by the eventual final score of 4-2.
Monaco was charged with the loss in two innings of relief, although the senior did strike out four of the ten batters he faced. Jim Hegmann took the game one win for Oneonta in six innings of relief after spelling Oneonta starter Steve Ascher.
The Hawks next compete on Wednesday, April 11, when New Paltz hosts cross-river rival Vassar College at 4 p.m. at Loren Campbell Memorial Field.