SALISBURY, Md. – The State University of New York at New Paltz scored seven runs in the top of the ninth inning to complete a 10-9 come-from-behind victory over the sixth-ranked Salisbury University baseball team at the SU Baseball Field on Sunday.
Salisbury (6-2) trailed, 1-0, after the top of the first, but knotted the game when Ken O'Neill doubled down the left-field line to plate Quinn Griffith with two outs. SU took the lead with a Bill Root sacrifice fly in the second and added two more in the third and four in the fourth to open an 8-3 advantage.
Johnny Schiotis picked up an RBI single and Bobby Sanzone scored Austin Barefoot with a fielder's choice to third base in two-run third. Joey Jones had the big blow in the fourth with a two-run double down the left-field line sandwiched by run-scoring singles from Griffith and Schiotis.
Evan Graci scored Sanzone with a sacrifice fly to right field in the seventh for a six-run bulge.
Leading, 9-3, in the top of ninth, Salisbury looked destined to close out a series sweep against the Hawks (2-4), who rallied to salvage one in the three-game set.
Freshman Andre Hoover gave up a single to Matt Dixon, a pinch-hit walk to Chris Baltera and RBI double to Matthew Carr to help New Paltz cut the deficit to five, before giving way to classmate Jon Schmedel, who surrendered a bases-loaded walk to Thomas Pinnola. Sophomore Kyle Hamby struck out Steven Morse swinging prior to allowing consecutive RBI singles to Matt Prescia and Andrew DiNardo to make it a 9-7 game. Brett Collacchi relieved Hamby and gave up an infield hit to Matt Kaldon, scoring Pinnola, before Dixon reached on a fielder's choice. Prescia scored on a fielder's choice and DiNardo came home on an errant relay throw for the Hawks' go-ahead run.
Anthony Repetto, who started the game in left field, earned his first save of the season with a 1-2-3 bottom of the ninth for New Paltz.
The late runs spoiled a solid collegiate debut for right-hander Jeff Oster, who pitched 6 1/3 innings, scattering seven hits, two walks and three runs while striking out two.
John Schmidt, the third of four New Paltz pitchers, earned the win for the Hawks, allowing one hit in the eighth inning.
Five Salisbury players collected at least two hits apiece led by Schiotis' 3-for-5 day. He scored one run and knocked in two more. Griffith and O'Neill each scored twice for SU.
Prescia was 3-for-5 with a two RBIs and a run scored to pace New Paltz.
Salisbury travels to face No. 5 Christopher Newport University on Wednesday. First pitch at Captains Park is slated for 2 p.m.