NEW PALTZ, N.Y. – The State University of New York at New Paltz baseball team (14-8) defeated non-conference Mount Saint Mary College (13-10) by a 13-8 margin on Tuesday afternoon at Loren Campbell Field. Senior designated hitter Mike Marash (Cortlandt Manor, N.Y./Hendrick Hudson) and junior center fielder Matt Carr (Westbury, N.Y./Long Island Lutheran) each fell a hit shy of the cycle, as Marash batted 4-for-4 with a double, triple, two RBI and a run scored, while Carr went 3-for-5 with a double, a home run, three RBI and three runs scored.

After two Knight errors put runners at the corners in the home half of the second, sophomore left fielder  Anthony Repetto (North Babylon, N.Y./North Babylon) grounded into a 6-4-3 double play, but was able to score junior third baseman Matt Prescia (Oakdale, N.Y./Connetquot). With one out in the bottom of the third inning, Carr smacked a home run over the left-field wall, earning his first round trip of the season.

Carr led off the bottom of the fifth inning, lining a double into right center field. The Hawk center fielder advanced to third base after a flyout by junior right fielder Thomas Pinnola (North Babylon, N.Y./North Babylon) and then scored on a wild pitch during an at-bat by senior first baseman Jake Cameron (Rockville Centre, N.Y./South Side).

The Knights retook the lead in the top of the sixth with a three-run outburst. The Hawks quickly responded in the bottom half of the inning, as junior catcher Matt Kaldon (Montgomery, N.Y./Valley Central) reached on a passed ball. Marash sent Kaldon to third base with a double down the right-field line. Kaldon then scored on a sacrifice fly by senior second baseman Chris Paulicelli (Lindenhurst, N.Y./Lindenhurst), tying the game at 4-all.

New Paltz exploded for seven runs in the seventh inning off of Knight relief pitcher Andrew Conn. T. Pinnola and Cameron were hit by pitches on the first two throws of the inning, putting runners on first and second. T. Pinnola advanced to third on a fly ball by Prescia and then scored on a sac fly Kaldon. After Cameron stole second, Repetto earned a walk after working a full count. Marash then mashed his fourth hit of the game, a triple to right-center field, knocking in both base runners. Marash scored on the play courtesy of a throwing error by the Mount Saint Mary second baseman. Paulicelli followed with a triple of his own.  Senior shortstop Paul Merola (Cornwall-on-Hudson, N.Y./Cornwall) then reached on a walk and advanced to second base on catcher's indifference. A single by Carr scored both Paulicelli and Merola. After Carr stole second, he was knocked in by a T. Pinnola single. He, too, stole second, and scored on a Cameron double to end the Hawk scoring on the inning.

In the bottom of the eighth, amidst a slew of pinch-hitters, senior Mike Sherlock (Liverpool, N.Y./Cicero-North Syracuse) entered the game and was plunked on a 1-2 count. He advanced to second on a wild pitch and later scored on a double by Merola.

The Hawks held on to a 13-5 lead going into the final frame and were able to withstand a rally by the Knights, who scored three runs in the top of the ninth.

Sophomore relief pitcher Chris Pyz (Kings Park, N.Y./Kings Park) earned the victory in one inning of work coming out of the bullpen, entering the game to pitch the seventh frame. He moved to 2-2 on the season with the winning decision. Conn took the loss for Mount Saint Mary.

The Hawks next see action on Friday, April 6, when New Paltz hosts SUNY Oneonta in State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) action at Loren Campbell Field at 3 p.m., prior to squaring off against Oneonta in a doubleheader on Saturday.