NEW PALTZ, N.Y. – Sophomore right fielder Nick DePietro (Carmel, N.Y./Carmel) hit a walk-off home run in game two of the State University of New York at New Paltz baseball team's non-conference doubleheader against Elmira College on Saturday afternoon at Loren Campbell Memorial Field, lifting the Hawks to a 2-1 win in 10 innings. New Paltz claimed game one, 12-1.
 
New Paltz rises to 20-12-2 overall with the wins and next visits Union (N.Y.) College on Wednesday, April 27, at 7 p.m. in Schenectady, N.Y. Elmira drops to 9-19 with the losses and next visits Utica College on Tuesday, April 26, at 2 p.m.
 
Game 1: New Paltz 12, Elmira 1
 
New Paltz pounded out 16 hits in game one and relied on strong defense and pitching to carry the team to a 12-1 victory.
 
Junior first baseman Dylan Bellinger opened scoring for Elmira in the top of the first, as he belted a 1-0 pitch high over the fence in left-center field to give the Soaring Eagles a 1-0 lead. Sophomore center fielder Jake Williams(Seaford, N.Y./Seaford) scored on a fielder's choice in the bottom of the first to tie the score, while senior designated hitter Andrew DiNardo (Hopewell Junction, N.Y./John Jay-East Fishkill) crossed on a double play in the second to give the Hawks the lead.
 
The offensive floodgates opened during the next three innings, as New Paltz scored four runs in the third, two in the fourth and four in the fifth to mount a 12-1 advantage. Neither team scored from that point forward, and the Hawks emerged victorious in the first game of the twinbill.
 
Williams, sophomore second baseman Anthony Pantano (Farmingdale, N.Y./Farmingdale), junior first basemanAnthony Diana (North Amawalk, N.Y./Somers), senior catcher Tyler Bell (West Islip, N.Y./West Islip) and freshman shortstop Ryan Frost (Beacon, N.Y./Beacon) all had multiple hits for the Hawks, while Diana drove in four runs.
 
Sophomore pitcher Conor Donachie (Garden City, N.Y./Chaminade) earned the win on the mound for New Paltz, giving up one run off three hits and a walk while striking out four in seven innings of duty. Sophomore pitcher Jeff Sarra (Ronkonkoma, N.Y./Connetquot) tossed two flawless innings of relief and struck out one. Sophomore pitcher/designated hitter Dennis Rudolph scattered 11 hits and yielded six runs in the loss for Elmira.
 
Game 2: New Paltz 2, Elmira 1 (10 inn.)
 
DePietro provided the heroics in game two, hitting a walk-off home run over the left-field fence in the 10th inning to give New Paltz the 2-1 victory.
 
In a game in which offense came at a premium, sophomore first baseman Chris Moran (Wading River, N.Y./Shoreham-Wading River) put New Paltz on the board in the fourth inning, plating Pantano with a single to right center.
 
New Paltz continued to ride the arm of senior pitcher Christian Huertas (Bronx, N.Y./Archbishop Stepinac), who kept Elmira scoreless until the top of the seventh. Bellinger kicked off the seventh with a ground-rule double, and he ended up advancing to third on a sacrifice bunt. With a left-handed hitter at bat, sophomore pitcher Brian LoRusso (Garden City, N.Y./Garden City) entered the game and induced a groundout to leave Bellinger stranded at third with two outs. Sophomore pitcher Ryan Votypka (Kings Park, N.Y./Kings Park) then entered the game, and after giving up a double that scored the run, he struck out the next batter to end the inning.
 
Votypka tossed a scoreless eighth inning before senior pitcher Brett Wisner (Forest Hills, N.Y./Forest Hills) took over the ball in the ninth. Wisner kept the Soaring Eagles off the board in the ninth and 10th innings, setting the stage for DePietro's walk-off homer.
 
DiPietro and Pantano each had multiple hits for the Hawks, while sophomore left fielder Cameron Heggie went 2-for-4 to lead Elmira.
 
Wisner was credited with the win, though Huertas pitched well in the start, yielding one run off two hits while striking out four over 6 1/3 innings of work. Freshman pitcher Andy Reed did not earn a decision for the Soaring Eagles, allowing just one unearned run off four hits and a walk while striking out three in eight frames of duty. Freshman pitcher Nick Cottone shouldered the loss, permitting one run off three hits while striking out one in 1 1/3 innings of work.