NEW PALTZ, N.Y. – The State University of New York at New Paltz baseball team kicked off its three-game series with State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) foe SUNY Fredonia with a 6-3 victory on Saturday afternoon at Loren Campbell Memorial Field.

The Hawks improve to 12-9-2, 5-5 SUNYAC while the Blue Devils drop to 9-12, 2-5 SUNYAC. The teams will conclude the series tomorrow with a doubleheader set for 12 p.m.
Fredonia loaded the bases in the top of the second and soon after grabbed a 1-0 edge when senior shortstop Kyle Sherman singled through the left side to drive in senior catcher Dan Cecilia but the Hawks managed to get out of the inning before the Blue Devils could add on to their lead.

Sophomore left fielder Jeff Sarra (Ronkonkoma, N.Y./Connetquot) singled to lead off the bottom of the third before advancing to scoring position on a double by freshman shortstop Ryan Frost (Beacon, N.Y./Beacon). The Hawks loaded the bases when sophomore right fielder Nick DePietro (Carmel, N.Y./Carmel) was walked and would soon tie the score as sophomore center fielder Jake Williams (Seaford, N.Y./Seaford) hit a sacrifice fly to drive in Sarra.

Sophomore designated hitter Chris Moran (Wading River, N.Y./Shoreham-Wading River) drove in Frost on a single to hand the Hawks the lead before a double by senior catcher Tyler Bell (West Islip, N.Y./West Islip) brought in DePietro. Sophomore second baseman Anthony Pantano (Farmingdale, N.Y./Farmingdale) capped off the inning, driving in Moran on a single for a 4-1 advantage before being caught stealing to send the Hawks back to the dugout.

The Blue Devils cut the score to 4-2 as freshman right fielder Kevin Yirinec hit a home run over the center field wall but New Paltz kept its lead as Frost scored off a DePietro single in the bottom of the fifth.

Although Fredonia would slice the deficit to 5-3 in the top of the seventh on a forced walk with bases loaded, New Paltz sealed the win on a Bell single that plated freshman pinch runner/third baseman Danny Campbell (Pearl River, N.Y./Pearl River) in the bottom of the eighth.

The Hawks hammered out 11 hits for the game while limiting the Blue Devils to five. Bell went 2-for-3 at the plate with two RBIs while Frost was 2-for-3 with two runs and two doubles. DePietro, Sarra, and Moran were 1-for-3 with one run apiece.

Yirinec turned in a 1-for-3 performance with one run and two RBIs while Cecilia was also 1-for-3 with one run at the plate.

Sophomore pitcher Conor Donachie (Garden City, N.Y./Garden City) picked up the win to improve to 4-2 on the season. Donachie allowed two runs off five hits and struck out four batters in six innings of work. DiNardo did not allow a hit or a run in the 2 1/3 innings he pitched to earn his second save of the season.

Senior pitcher Zachary Jordon took the loss for Fredonia, giving up six runs off 11 hits and striking out six batters.