PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. – Despite trialing by just one run entering the bottom of the eighth, the State University of New York at New Paltz baseball team gave up five runs and suffered a 7-1 setback to Denison on Tuesday morning.
 
The Hawks fall to 1-6 and will prepare to play Salem State on Wednesday, March 18 at 12 p.m. before facing UMass-Boston at 3:30 p.m., the second time facing the Beacons on this trip. The Big Red moves to 2-2 and will take on Farmingdale State on Wednesday at 11 a.m.
 
New Paltz scored its lone run in the top of the eighth when senior third baseman Mike Sparacino (Commack, N.Y./Commack) cracked a single to left that scored senior outfielder Richard Guido (Ulster Park, N.Y./Kingston).
 
Junior starter Christian Huertas (Bronx, N.Y./Archbishop Stepniac) was charged with the loss, despite just allowing two runs and scattering five hits in five innings. Freshman southpaw Brian LoRusso (Garden City, N.Y./Garden City) hurled two shutout innings out of the bullpen.
 
The Hawks cracked seven hits with Sparacino going 3-for-4 and Guido going 2-for-3. Senior second baseman Stanley DeLaCruz (Bronx, N.Y./High School of International Business and Finance) drew a game-high three walks and ripped a single in the fourth. Senior Shaun Hansen (Southold, N.Y./Greenport) accounted for the remaining New Paltz hit, a pinch-hit single in the top of the fifth.
 
Denison scored in the bottom of the first and third to hand New Paltz a 2-0 deficit entering the eighth, until Guido plated the run to cut the lead in half. However, the Big Red tallied five runs on four hits and two costly errors in the bottom of the frame to take a commanding 7-1 lead.
 
Trailing by six runs, the Denison pitcher was able to strike out a pair and force a groundout to hand the Hawks the tough defeat. For the Big Red, starter Kyle Colgain earned his first victory of the spring, throwing seven shutout innings. Andrew Bruss pitched the final two frames to pick up the save.