ONEONTA, N.Y. – The State University of New York at New Paltz baseball team defeated State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) and Catskill Cup rival SUNY Oneonta, 6-4, in the weekend's series finale on Sunday afternoon. With the win, New Paltz leads Oneonta, 20-18, in the 2015-16 Catskill Cup standings.

The Hawks improve to 16-11-2, 8-7 SUNYAC and will travel to Ithaca College on Tuesday, April 19 for a 4 p.m. non-conference contest. The Red Dragons drop to 5-21, 3-8 SUNYAC and move on to host SUNY Cortland on Monday, April 18 at 3:30 p.m.

New Paltz landed on the scoreboard in the top of the first as sophomore right fielder Nick DePietro (Carmel, N.Y./Carmel) took advantage of an Oneonta throwing error to run home before senior catcher Tyler Bell (West Islip, N.Y./West Islip) hit a sacrifice fly to left field, driving in sophomore center fielder Jake Williams (Seaford, N.Y./Seaford) to make it a 2-0 game.

The Red Dragons were able to level the score in the bottom of the second when senior first baseman Dylan Stamile scored as junior catcher Sean Mullins grounded out to second base and sophomore third baseman Brandon Torres was driven in on a single by junior center fielder Sage Cheren. However the Hawks took back the lead in the following inning as DePietro advanced to third on a Williams double before reaching home on a fielder's choice to put New Paltz up, 3-2.

Oneonta tied the score again in the bottom of the fourth when sophomore left fielder Sam Beaulac doubled to drive in junior shortstop Michael Grudzinski but New Paltz rallied in the top of the seventh with two runs.

Junior left fielder Taylor Anderson (East New Market, Md./Cambridge-South Dorchester) produced a single to lead off the inning before advancing to second as DePietro grounded out to third base. Williams then stepped up to plate a single down the right side to bring in Anderson for a 4-3 edge. Sophomore second baseman Anthony Pantano (Farmingdale, N.Y./Farmingdale) doubled down the left field line, placing Williams in scoring position before the sophomore center fielder ran home on a wild pitch for a 5-3 lead.

Freshman shortstop Ryan Frost (Beacon, N.Y./Beacon) provided the Hawks' final run in the top of the ninth, scoring on a sacrifice fly by Williams.
The Red Dragons were able to load the bases in the home half of the inning and snuck in a run as sophomore designated hitter Donald Geloso scored on a single by senior pinch hitter Matt Mastroianni. Oneonta loaded the bases once again as Mullins was hit by a pitch but after some rearrangement on the New Paltz defense, the Hawks were able to retire the final two batters to seal the 6-4 victory.

New Paltz pounded out 10 hits for the game. Williams keyed the offense, turning in a 4-for-4 performance that included two runs, two RBIs, and two doubles. DePietro went 1-for-3 at the plate with two runs and one walk while Anderson and Frost each went 1-for-4 with one run.

Stamile went 3-for-5 for the Red Dragons, turning in one run and one RBI while Geloso went 2-for-5 with a run and a double. Torres also recorded one run and was 2-for-4 at the plate.

Sophomore pitcher Brian LoRusso (Garden City, N.Y./Garden City) picked up his third win for New Paltz, permitting one run off three hits in two innings of work and striking out two batters. Senior third baseman/pitcher Andrew DiNardo (Hopewell Junction, N.Y./John Jay-East Fishkill) allowed two hits off five batters to earn his third save of the season.

Sophomore pitcher James McCarty took the loss for Oneonta, surrendering five runs off nine hits and four errors while walking one and striking out four in 6 2/3 innings of work.