NEW PALTZ, N.Y. – The State University of New York at New Paltz baseball team (14-9, 2-3 SUNYAC) dropped an 11-7 decision to State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) opponent SUNY Oneonta (12-10, 5-3 SUNYAC) on Friday afternoon at Loren Campbell Field. The Hawks rallied in the ninth inning, bringing the tying run to the plate after scoring four runs, but could not capitalize any further.

Junior right fielder Thomas Pinnola (North Babylon, N.Y./North Babylon) went 3-for-5 in the comeback effort for New Paltz, notching an RBI in the final frame off of a ground-rule double. Senior shortstop Paul Merola (Cornwall-on-Hudson, N.Y./Cornwall) went 2-for-3 on the afternoon, knocking in two runs while scoring one of his own.  Sophomore left fielder Anthony Repetto hit in two of his four at-bats, registering two RBI and a run scored in the contest.

Going into the bottom of the second inning, the Hawks already trailed the Red Dragons by a 1-0 margin. Junior catcher Matt Kaldon (Montgomery, N.Y./Valley Central) and Repetto each reached base on singles with one out in the inning, and both came around to score on a double to left-center field by Merola.

Oneonta took back the lead in the top of the third with a two-run home run by Matt Salvatore. The Red Dragons stretched its winning margin to a 9-2 score by the end of the seventh inning.

Leading off the bottom of the eighth frame, junior third baseman Matt Prescia (Oakdale, N.Y./Connetquot) reached base after being hit by a pitch from Oneonta starter Chris Tyson. He advanced to second on T. Pinnola's single through the left side. Prescia later came around to score New Paltz's third run of the day, courtesy of a Repetto single to left-center field.

The Red Dragons again responded to the scoring effort by the Hawks with one of their own, claiming two runs in the top of the ninth inning to go up 11-3.

With only three outs remaining, New Paltz staged a comeback. Merola walked after working a full count to begin the inning before advancing to second on a wild pitch. Junior center fielder Matt Carr (Westbury, N.Y./Long Island Lutheran) sent Merola to third with a single through the left side. In the Hawks' next at-bat, senior designated hitter Mike Marash (Cortlandt Manor, N.Y./Hendrick Hudson) sent a line-drive to the second baseman, who could not handle it, causing an error and scoring Merola. A single to left center by senior first baseman Jake Cameron (Rockville Centre, N.Y./South Side) sent Carr home and advanced Marash to second base.

After a fielder's choice in Prescia's at-bat erased Cameron and put Marash on third base, T. Pinnola's ground-rule double scored Marash, sent Prescia to third and got the Hawk faithful stirring, with New Paltz now only trailing by five runs. After a pitching change, Kaldon loaded the bases after being plunked on a 1-0 count. Two pitches later, Repetto was also hit by a pitch, forcing in the Hawks' seventh run and bringing the tying run to the plate in senior second baseman Chris Paulicelli (Lindenhurst, N.Y./Lindenhurst). After fighting off multiple pitches, Paulicelli got unlucky and lined into an unassisted double play to the second baseman to end the game.

New Paltz sophomore starting pitcher Andrew Grann (Oceanside, N.Y./Oceanside) took the loss, his second of the season, after going six innings and striking out three Red Dragons, allowing seven runs (three earned). Sophomore reliever Mike Pastorino (Stormville, N.Y./John Jay) and freshman reliever Mike Sparacino (Commack, N.Y./Commack) combined to finish off the last three innings for the Hawks.  Oneonta's Tyson earned his third win of the year after pitching eight innings, allowing 10 Hawk hits and three runs while striking out one New Paltz batter.

The action between these two teams continues tomorrow, Saturday, April 7, when New Paltz hosts Oneonta at Loren Campbell Field for a SUNYAC doubleheader. First pitch of game one is scheduled for 12 p.m.