FISHKILL, N.Y. – The State University of New York at New Paltz baseball team (3-5) split a pair of non-conference games on Saturday at Dutchess Stadium, falling to the Stevens Institute of Technology (7-2) by a 5-4 final before defeating Baruch College (1-6), 2-1, in six innings.

Against Stevens, New Paltz took a 4-1 lead into the bottom of the ninth inning, but the Ducks plated four runs, the last two of which came off a walk-off single by Curt Lowenstein, to come away with the victory.

The Hawks posted 12 hits to the Ducks' five in the 2-hour,48-minute contest.

Stevens opened scoring in the second, with Brian Hennelly pushing across Michael Donovan with a single to left-center.

New Paltz stormed back in the middle innings, though, as senior catcher Matt Kaldon (Montgomery, N.Y./Valley Central) scored junior shortstop Steven Morse (East Northport, N.Y./Commack) with a single through the left side in the fourth inning. Senior left fielder/pitcher Anthony Repetto (North Babylon, N.Y./North Babylon) gave the Hawks the lead with a sacrifice fly in the fifth, while sophomore right fielder Richard Guido (Ulster Park, N.Y./Kingston) and senior center fielder Matt Carr (Westbury, N.Y./Long Island Lutheran) pounded out RBI singles in the sixth.

Leading off the bottom of the ninth, Stevens' Dan Allen reached on an error by the third baseman, while the next batter struck out looking. Jayson Yano was hit by a pitch to put runners at second and third, but the Hawks forced a foul out to third to record the second out. Ryan Mannello walked to load the bases, while Tyler Bush reached on balls in the ensuing at-bat to score the Ducks' first run of the inning. Yano came around to score on a balk to make it a one-run game, and Lowenstein ended the tilt with a single to left field.

Guido paced the Hawk offense by going 3-for-4 with an RBI. Carr, senior first baseman Thomas Pinnola (North Babylon, N.Y./North Babylon) and Kaldon each boasted a multi-hit game as well. Stevens' Lowenstein led the way for the Ducks with a 2-for-4 outing, which included two RBI.

Senior pitcher Chris Chismar (Lindenhurst, N.Y./Lindenhurst) earned a no decision on the mound for the Hawks, lasting seven innings. He scattered four hits, allowed one unearned run and struck out eight. Senior pitcher John Schmidt (East Islip, N.Y./East Islip) worked a quality inning in relief, retiring the side in order in the eighth, while Repetto was tagged with the loss. Repetto yielded four unearned runs off one hit, two walks, a balk and a hit by pitch in the ninth.

For Stevens, Tyler Courter drew the start on the hill and lasted 5 1/3 innings. He allowed four runs off 10 hits and two walks while striking out two. Mark Poinsett and Kevin Mathews tossed a combined 3 2/3 innings in relief, holding the Hawks scoreless. Mathews picked up the win.

New Paltz eked out a victory in the nightcap against Baruch, as the Bearcats outhit the Hawks by a 9-4 margin.

The lone scoring for New Paltz came in the third. Freshman second baseman Matt Dixon (Centereach, N.Y./Centereach) and Carr had back-to-back singles to open the frame, and a single by Repetto ultimately led to Dixon scoring, as Dixon came home on a throwing error by the catcher.  Pinnola put runners on second and third with a sacrifice bunt, while Morse plated Carr to give the Hawks a 2-0 lead.

With snow falling at a swift rate, tensions mounted in the fifth and sixth innings, as neither team knew when the game would be called. Baruch capitalized in the sixth, nearly gaining the lead.

Philip Loprete doubled to deep center field to open the inning, and John Yuksekol ripped a routine ground ball to the shortstop in the ensuing at-bat that was held on to, putting runners on first and second with no outs. A strikeout and a fly out put the Bearcats on the ropes, but Loprete pilfered third base to keep the inning alive. Richard Valerio singled through the left side, plating Loprete, while Valerio and Yuksekol moved to second and third, respectively, due to a wild pitch. After the ball one wild pitch to Nicholas Pomo-Roman, the Hawks elected to intentionally walk him, loading the bases for Matthew Ballone. Ballone wound up striking out swinging, and following that out, the umpires called the game.

New Paltz was unable to find much offensive production against Baruch, with Carr and Dixon leading the way with a hit and a run scored each. For Baruch, Angel Tejeda went 2-for-3.

Junior pitcher Andrew Grann (Oceanside, N.Y./Oceanside) earned the win, scattering nine hits and permitting one run while striking out nine in six innings of work. Andrew Lizardi shouldered the loss for Baruch, yielding two runs—one of which was earned—off four hits.

New Paltz is slated to play Mount Saint Mary College at 4 p.m. tomorrow at Dutchess Stadium, weather permitting.