PLATTSBURGH – The State University of New York at New Paltz baseball team (12-8, 1-2 SUNYAC) split decisions in its doubleheader matchup against State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) opponent SUNY Plattsburgh (11-7, 4-2 SUNYAC) on Saturday afternoon in Plattsburgh. New Paltz won the opener, 5-0, as sophomore starting pitcher Andrew Grann (Oceanside, N.Y./Oceanside) came one out away from recording a no-hitter. The Hawks dropped game two by a score of 3-2.

With game one scheduled to go seven innings, Grann entered the bottom of the seventh frame having not allowed a hit or having walked a batter. He started the penultimate inning by striking out the Cardinals' Pat Shaughnessy and Jon Handy before allowing two consecutive singles by Chris Pescetti and Casey Brighton.

Grann induced a ground out to end the game after losing his no-hit bid. In his seven innings of work, Grann allowed just the two seventh-inning hits without walking a batter and struck out eight Cardinals. Prior to the final frame, three Plattsburgh batters reached base via Hawk error or Grann's sole hit-by-pitch.

Both starting pitchers were lights-out in the first six innings, as Cardinal starter Tyler Greene held the Hawks to four hits and no walks prior to the seventh inning. However, once the seventh inning opened, that changed drastically.

Junior third baseman Matt Prescia (Oakdale, N.Y./Connetquot) opened the frame with a single and advanced to second on a single by senior first baseman Jake Cameron (Rockville Centre, N.Y./South Side). Junior right fielder Thomas Pinnola (North Babylon, N.Y./North Babylon) attempted to advance the runners with a sacrifice bunt, but Prescia was thrown out at third instead on the fielder's choice. Junior catcher Matt Kaldon (Montgomery, N.Y./Valley Central) singled to left field to load the bases, which were promptly emptied by a three-RBI triple from sophomore designated hitter Jimmy Briggs (Lindenhurst, N.Y./Lindenhurst). Briggs was knocked in by senior second baseman Chris Paulicelli's (Lindenhurst, N.Y./Lindenhurst) double, which also brought about a pitching change. Paulicelli would later score on a single by junior center fielder Matt Carr (Westbury, N.Y./Long Island Lutheran) just prior to the inning ending.

Paulicelli and Kaldon were the only two batters to have multiple hits in game one. Paulicelli went 2-for-3 with a run scored and a RBI, while Kaldon was a perfect 3-for-3 with a run scored. Briggs' three-RBI triple brought in the winning run for New Paltz.

In game two, scheduled to be a nine-inning affair, Plattsburgh broke its scoreless streak by scoring a run in the first frame. The Hawks responded with a two-run third inning, where a Carr single knocked in the previously-walked Paulicelli prior to sophomore left fielder Anthony Repetto (North Babylon, N.Y./North Babylon) scoring senior shortstop Paul Merola (Cornwall-on-Hudson, N.Y./Cornwall) on a groundout.

The Cardinals took the lead back for good in the bottom of the eighth inning, scoring two runs (one earned) off sophomore relief pitcher Chris Pyz (Kings Park, N.Y./Kings Park). Pyz was charged with the loss after seven relief innings in the stead of sophomore starting pitcher James McKenna (Bohemia, N.Y./Connetquot), who left after the first inning. Pyz struck out three Cardinals while allowing seven hits. Brian Burns earned the victory in two innings of relief for the Cardinals.

Paulcelli went 2-for-3 in game two with a walk and a run scored. Fellow middle infielder Perola was 2-for-4 with the Hawks' other run scored.

After falling in its season series with Plattsburgh, 2-1, New Paltz looks to improve its conference record in its upcoming series with SUNYAC opponent The College at Brockport. The Hawks open the home series, their first home action of the year, on Friday, March 30, with a single game scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. at Loren Campbell Memorial Field. The next day, Saturday, March 31, New Paltz hosts Brockport in doubleheader action, with game one's first pitch scheduled for 12 p.m.