ANNANDALE-ON-HUDSON, N.Y. – The State University of New York at New Paltz baseball team enjoyed a doubleheader sweep of host Bard on Wednesday afternoon, defeating the Raptors 8-3 in game one followed by a 4-2 victory in game two at Honey Field.
With the victories, New Paltz improves to 7-5 overall and will return to Bard on Monday-Tuesday to "host" SUNY Oswego in a three-game series. Bard, meanwhile, falls to 5-7 overall.
Game One: New Paltz 8, Bard 3
The Hawks enjoyed eight runs on 12 hits as 10 student-athletes notched at least one hit as New Paltz took the opener.
Junior Jake Williams (Seaford, N.Y./Seaford) finished 2-for-4 in the leadoff spot, scoring twice and driving in one run. Junior Chris Moran (Wading River, N.Y./Shoreham-Wading River) went 2-for-3 with two RBI and one run scored.
Junior Dwayne Page (Ronkonkoma, N.Y./Connetquot) drove in two runs while freshman Matt Warshaw (Bohemia, N.Y./Connetquot) collected an RBI.
Sophomore right-hander Justin Stybel (Bellmore, N.Y./John F. Kennedy) earned the start and his first victory of the year, only going two frames, striking out three while allowing just one hit.
Appearing out of the bullpen, in order of appearance, was freshman J.T Carroll (Seaford, N.Y./MacArthur) (two innings, two strikeouts), junior Jeff Sarra (Ronkonkoma, N.Y./Connetquot), junior Jordan Dietch (Commack, N.Y./Commack) and freshman Anthony Amoroso (Monroe, N.Y./Monroe-Woodbury).
Page started the scoring with a two-run triple to right center to give the Hawks the early 2-0 edge in the first. Williams scored on a wild pitch in the second to hand New Paltz a 3-0 cushion.
Junior Brian Brenton (Calverton, N.Y./Riverhead) touched home thanks to a throwing error by Bard's shortstop in the sixth to go ahead 4-1 and Williams followed with an RBI bunt single to score sophomore Danny Campbell (Pearl River, N.Y./Pearl River) and increase the New Paltz lead to 5-1.
In the sixth, Moran stroked a two-run double to left center, scoring Williams and Ryan Frost (Beacon, N.Y./Beacon), and Warshaw completed the offense in the seventh, reaching on a fielder's choice which allowed freshman Julian Francisco (Bedford Hills, N.Y./Fox Lane) to score.
Game Two: New Paltz 4, Bard 2
Trailing 1-0 after two innings, the Hawks plated four in the fourth and held on for the game two win.
Offensively, New Paltz tallied seven hits by seven players with Francisco coming through with the game's biggest hit, a two-run single to center in the fourth.
Williams and junior Tyler Laco (Commack, N.Y./Commack) both drove in a run each, both RBI singles in the four-run fourth.
Seven pitchers appeared for the Hawks with Brenton earning the win. Junior lefty Brian LoRusso (Garden City, N.Y./Garden City) pitched the seventh and struck out three to earn his second save of the season.