PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. – The State University of New York at New Paltz baseball team picked up its second victory against Lancaster Bible in the past four days, defeating the Chargers 11-2 on Thursday afternoon.

With the win, the Hawks move to 3-7 overall and will prepare to face No. 3 SUNY Cortland in the State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) opening series, starting with a doubleheader on Friday at 12 p.m. The Chargers fall to 0-4 and play Wooster tomorrow at 3:30 p.m.

Despite falling behind 1-0 after three innings, the Hawks went on to score at least one run in the next five frames, including a five-run seventh, to cruise to the non-conference win.

New Paltz cracked 14 hits, with leadoff hitter freshman second baseman Chris Amato (Brooklyn, N.Y./Xaverian) going 2-for-6 with two runs scored. Junior center fielder Taylor Anderson (East New Market, Md. /Cambridge-South Dorcester) finished 2-for-5 with two runs and a game-high four RBI, including a two-run homer to left in the fifth.

Sophomore first baseman Robert Fitzpatrick (Massapequa, N.Y./Massapequa) and freshman shortstop Anthony Pantano (Farmingdale, N.Y./Farmingdale) collected two hits apiece while Pantano and freshman Chris Moran(Wading River, N.Y./Shoreham-Wading River) both finished with two RBI. Freshman third baseman Tom Read (Massapequa, N.Y./Plainedge) blasted a solo homer to left in the sixth

Sophomore right-hander Spencer Ballot (Amawalk, N.Y./Somers) earned the start and the win, throwing five innings, allowing just one run. Sophomore righty Kevin Frank (Bellmore, N.Y. /W.C. Mepham) appeared out of the bullpen for the third time this year and finished the rest of the game, going four frames.

In the top of the first, the Hawks had two runners on with two outs, thanks to a single by junior designated hitter Andrew DiNardo (Hopewell Junction, N.Y./John Jay-East Fishkill) and a double by Fitzpatrick. But both runners were left stranded. After the Chargers gained a 1-0 lead in the third on an RBI single, the Hawks responded and knotted the game at 1-1 thanks to an RBI single by sophomore right fielder Andrew Martini (Monroe, N.Y./Monroe-Woodbury) in the top of the fourth.

In the top of the fifth, Amato led off with a double followed by Anderson who blasted a two-run long ball over the left field fence to give New Paltz a 3-1 advantage. In the top half of the sixth, Read broke through for a solo shot and Pantano later scored on a wild pitch to put the Hawks ahead 5-1.

New Paltz then went on to plate five runs in the seventh frame as Pantano picked up an RBI single. Two batters later, Anderson ripped a two-run double and Moran notched a two-run single to end the big inning for the Hawks. The Chargers recorded their final run in the eighth on an RBI groundout but Frank was able to shut the door the remainder of the game to seal the win for New Paltz.