OSWEGO, N.Y. – The road to qualifying for the 2012 State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) Baseball Championship Tournament saw a major hurdle for the State University of New York at New Paltz baseball team (16-13, 3-7 SUNYAC) on Saturday, as the Hawks dropped a league doubleheader to SUNY Oswego (14-15, 5-5 SUNYAC). Oswego secured the three-game sweep with a 1-0 win in game one before topping New Paltz, 3-2, in 11 innings in the nightcap.

Junior pitcher Chris Chismar (Lindenhurst, N.Y./Lindenhurst) was the hard-luck loser in game one, as he fell to 1-2 for the season after allowing one run and scattering four hits over six innings of duty. Chismar also struck out seven.

Oswego used strong base running by David Mazzullo in the second to plate game one's only run. Mazzullo walked and advanced to third on a single by Alex Jurczynski. He then came home by means of a sacrifice fly by Brian Hamilton, and that run wound up being the difference.

Oswego's Kyle Miller threw a five-hit shutout, lasting seven innings while issuing one walk and striking out seven. Miller raised his record to 3-2 with the win.

In the nightcap, Mike Stark drove in the winning run in the 11th inning off a walk-off single, which gave the Lakers the 3-2 victory and the series sweep.

Both sides were silent until the sixth. Junior right fielder Thomas Pinnola (North Babylon, N.Y./North Babylon) put the Hawks on the board with a two-run single that plated senior designated hitter Jake Cameron (Rockville Centre, N.Y./South Side) and senior second baseman Paul Merola (Cornwall-on-Hudson, N.Y./Cornwall), but the Lakers responded with a Mazzullo two-run shot to right in the home half of the inning.

Sophomore pitcher James McKenna (Bohemia, N.Y./Connetquot) did not earn a decision, as he drew the start for the Hawks and worked seven full innings. He yielded two runs off five hits, two walks and three wild pitches while striking out four. Senior pitcher Nick Monaco (Medford, N.Y./Patchogue-Medford) came out of the bullpen and hurled 3 2/3 frames, scattering three hits and permitting one run in the losing effort. Monaco also fanned five batters.

Dan Erne lasted 8 1/3 innings for Oswego, giving up two runs off eight hits and two walks while striking out six. Mark Schaper permitted just one hit in 2 2/3 innings of relief work and earned the victory.

New Paltz received multi-hit performances from its middle infielders, Merola and junior shortstop Steven Morse (East Northport, N.Y./Commack). Merola batted 2-for-5 with a run scored, while Morse hit 2-for-4. For Oswego, Roman (2-for-4, one run scored) and Scott Buniak (2-for-4, one run scored) ignited the attack.

The Hawks face The College at Brockport tomorrow in a crucial conference doubleheader in Utica, N.Y. The twinbill, which is a make-up from the originally-scheduled date of March 31, will begin at 12 p.m. at SUNYIT.