NEW PALTZ, N.Y. – The State University of New York at New Paltz baseball team (18-15, 5-8 SUNYAC) was victorious over State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) foe SUNY Fredonia (9-20, 3-10 SUNYAC), 13-5, on Friday afternoon at Loren Campbell Field in an effort to remain eligible for postseason play in the 2012 SUNYAC Baseball Championship Tournament, pounding out 17 hits in the victory.

Sophomore starting pitcher Andrew Grann (Oceanside, N.Y./Oceanside) earned his sixth victory of the year for New Paltz in seven innings of action, allowing four runs (one earned) and striking out two Blue Devils. Every Hawk batter had at least one hit in the game, with senior first baseman Jake Cameron (Rockville Centre, N.Y./South Side) going 3-for-4 with a walk and three runs scored. Junior third baseman Matt Prescia (Oakdale, N.Y./Connetquot) also had three hits in five at-bats, scoring two runs. Junior center fielder Matt Carr (Westbury, N.Y./Long Island Lutheran) and sophomore catcher David Lostaglio (Milton, N.Y./Marlboro Central) each brought two hits, three runs batted in and one run scored to the victorious effort, while sophomore designated hitter Jimmy Briggs (Lindenhurst, N.Y./Lindenhurst) hit a two-run home run for the Hawks.

After a throwing error allowed Fredonia's first run in the top of the second, New Paltz struck for four runs in the bottom of the frame. Cameron led off the inning with a single through the middle and advanced around to third courtesy of a wild pitch and ground out. Lostaglio then plated Cameron with a single to center field. After singles by sophomore left fielder Anthony Repetto (North Babylon, N.Y./North Babylon) and senior second baseman Paul Merola (Cornwall-on-Hudson, N.Y./Cornwall) loaded the bases, Carr smacked a three-run double to left center to clear the bags and give the Hawks a 4-1 lead.

Cameron again led off the bottom of the third inning and quickly reached base with a double to left center. He advanced to third on a Prescia single. Cameron scored on a wild pitch in the next at-bat, which also sent Prescia to second base. After Prescia advanced to third on a ground out, Lostaglio picked up his second RBI of the game with a single to right-center field, giving New Paltz a 6-1 lead after three full innings.

The Blue Devils scored two runs in the top of the fourth frame after a walk, double and a sacrifice fly with a throwing error, but they could not get closer than a three-run deficit.

Carr led off the bottom of the fourth with an infield single to the shortstop and later stole second base. Junior shortstop Steven Morse (East Northport, N.Y./Commack) plated Carr with a ground-rule double. A Cameron walk brought on a pitching change, and a Prescia single loaded the bases. After a fielder's choice cut down Morse at home, three straight walks to Lostaglio, Repetto and Merola forced in three more Hawk runs and another pitching change. The Blue Devils were able to stop the bleeding there, but New Paltz left the fourth inning with a 10-3 advantage.

Fredonia scored one run in the top of the sixth with an RBI-ground out, but could not put together a big inning to counter the New Paltz output. After another leadoff double by Cameron in the bottom of the eighth, Briggs sent a two-run home run well over the left-field wall to extend the Hawk lead to 12-4. The Hawks scored its final run later that inning after a fielding error by the second baseman brought Repetto from second all the way home.

Senior pitcher John Schmidt (East Islip, N.Y./East Islip) pitched the final two innings for New Paltz, allowing one run in the ninth inning before loading the bases, but took care of business to finish the 13-5 Hawk victory. Steven Ramsdell took the loss for Fredonia after 3 1/3 innings pitched with nine earned runs, 11 hits, one walk and one strikeout.

New Paltz, now 5-8 in SUNYAC play, currently stands sixth in the SUNYAC rankings. The Hawks are two games back of current third-place occupant SUNY Oneonta and trail fourth-place SUNY Plattsburgh by one game in the loss column.

The Hawks look to continue their torrid offensive pace tomorrow, Saturday, April 21, when they host the very same Blue Devils in a SUNYAC doubleheader on New Paltz's Senior Day. First pitch for game one is now scheduled at Loren Campbell Field for 10 a.m. New Paltz will hold its Senior Day festivities in between games.