CORTLAND, N.Y. – The State University of New York at New Paltz baseball team (16-18, 12-6 SUNYAC) cut a six-run deficit to just one in the sixth and seventh innings, but the comeback bid fell short as the second-seeded Hawks lost their 2013 State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) opening round matchup on Friday to No. 3 SUNY Oswego (24-13, 12-6 SUNYAC), 9-5.
 
The Hawks will take on No. 4 SUNY Fredonia, which lost to No. 1 SUNY Cortland, 11-3, in the opening round, tomorrow at 10 a.m. The winner of that game will take on the loser of the Cortland vs. Oswego matchup, while the loser will be eliminated from the SUNYAC Tournament.
 
Down 6-0 in the sixth, the Hawks quickly loaded the bases without even picking up a hit. Senior center fielder Matt Carr (Westbury, N.Y./Long Island Lutheran) opened the inning by being hit by a pitch for the second time in the game. Senior first baseman Thomas Pinnola (North Babylon, N.Y./North Babylon) and senior left fielder Anthony Repetto (North Babylon, N.Y./North Babylon) each followed with a walk to put a runner on each base. Junior designated hitter David Lostaglio (Milton, N.Y./Marlboro Central) came through with a two-RBI single to end the Hawks' drought.
 
Senior third baseman Matt Prescia followed Lostaglio by grounding into a fielder's choice, but Repetto was able to score on the play to give the Hawks their third run. Prescia later scored on an RBI single off the bat of sophomore right fielder Richard Guido (Ulster Park, N.Y./Kingston) to cap off a four-run inning for New Paltz that cut the Oswego advantage to 6-4.
 
With two outs in the seventh, Lostaglio came up clutch once again with another big hit. Repetto walked to keep the inning alive, and then Lostaglio drove a double to right center to bring him around to score and cut the deficit to just one run.
 
With the hope of a late comeback still in the Hawks' sights, Oswego added some crucial insurance runs in the ninth frame to ensure its victory. With a runner on, the Lakers hit back-to-back doubles, followed by another base hit to bring in three runs and push the lead to the eventual final score of 9-5.
 
Junior starting pitcher Andrew Grann (Oceanside, N.Y./Oceanside) shouldered the opening round loss for the Hawks, allowing six runs on 12 hits while striking out three batters. He managed to work seven innings, limiting the Hawks' need for relief pitchers to save them for later games in the tournament. Oswego starter Dan Erne picked up the win despite allowing five runs across seven innings. Miles Kelly earned a save for the Lakers with a perfect eighth and ninth.
 
The Lakers got on the board immediately, picking up a pair of runs in the first. With runners on the corners and just one out, second baseman Mike Stark was able to score on a passed ball for the first run of the game. Right fielder Mike McMullen scored later in the inning when first baseman Andrew Lazzaro singled on a Baltimore chop over the third baseman to improve the lead to two runs.
 
The Lakers' big inning came in the third, as three straight singles fueled a three-run rally. The third single brought in the first run, while two fielders' choices were able to bring in the other two and leave Oswego with a 5-0 lead.
 
Oswego picked up one more run in the top of the sixth that gave them the previously mentioned 6-0 lead. Left fielder Ed Charles opened the inning with a double, and then later scored on a McMullen single.
 
Lostaglio batted 3-for-4 with a double and three RBI in the loss. Senior catcher Matt Kaldon went 2-for-4, while Repetto went 0-for-2, but scored two runs.
 
McMullen led the Lakers with a 3-for-5 effort, scoring twice in the process. Lazzaro picked up a pair of RBI in a 2-for-5 outing, while Stark also went 2-for-5 with two runs. Charles hit 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles, two runs and an RBI.
 
No. 2 New Paltz and No. 4 Fredonia face off tomorrow, May 4, at 10 a.m. in the losers' bracket game at Robert H. Wallace Field. No. 1 Cortland and No. 3 Oswego will then face off in the winners' bracket game at 1 p.m., with the loser taking on the winner of tomorrow's opening game and the winner moving on to the championship round.