NEW PALTZ, N.Y. – Strengthened by a four-RBI effort from junior third baseman Matt Prescia (Oakdale, N.Y./Connetquot), the State University of New York at New Paltz baseball team (13-8, 2-2 SUNYAC) defeated The College at Brockport (12-8, 1-3 SUNYAC), 7-3, in State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) action at Loren Campbell Memorial Field on Friday afternoon in the Hawks' 2012 home opener. The win signified head coach Matt Griffiths' 100th career victory.

Griffiths', now in his sixth season as New Paltz head coach, has amassed a record of 100-110 in his time with the Hawks, dating back to the 2007 season. The 2010 SUNYAC Baseball Coach of the Year has led the Hawks to a record at or above .500 in three of his five previous seasons. Last year, Griffiths coached the Hawks to their first berth in the SUNYAC Baseball Championship Tournament since 2001.

Prescia went 2-for-4 Friday against the Golden Eagles, with each of his two singles netting him two RBI. Sophomore left fielder Anthony Repetto (North Babylon, N.Y./North Babylon) hit 3-for-4 for the Hawks while also scoring a run. Sophomore starting pitcher Andrew Grann (Oceanside, N.Y./Oceanside) went seven innings in earning his fifth win of the season (5-1), allowing five hits and two runs (one earned) while tying his career-high in strikeouts (eight) for the second straight outing.

The Hawk scoring did not begin until the sixth inning, with New Paltz spotting Brockport a 1-0 lead after five-and-a-half frames. Junior center fielder Matt Carr (Westbury, N.Y./Long Island Lutheran) was the first Hawk to reach base in the inning, working a walk. A single from junior right fielder Thomas Pinnola (North Babylon, N.Y./North Babylon) sent Carr to second. Carr advanced to third on a wild pitch before senior first baseman Jake Cameron (Rockville Centre, N.Y./South Side) loaded the bases by drawing the second walk of the half-inning. Prescia's first single of the day sent Carr and T. Pinnola home and gave New Paltz its first lead of the afternoon. Cameron, now on third, scored on a sacrifice fly from junior catcher Matt Kaldon (Montgomery, N.Y./Valley Central) to give Grann a two-run lead heading into the seventh.

After allowing a Golden Eagle run in the top of the seventh, the Hawks supported their lead with another three-run outburst, this time in the bottom of the seventh. Repetto led off the inning with a single to left-center field and was followed by senior second baseman Chris Paulicelli (Lindenhurst, N.Y./Lindenhurst) reaching via a walk. After a pitching change, Repetto stole third base after almost being caught in a rundown. Carr was the next Hawk to reach base after being hit by a pitch, loading the bags. T. Pinnola suffered the same fate as Carr, but earned a RBI for his pain as Repetto scored on the hit-by-pitch. Prescia earned his second two-run single of the afternoon after the second Brockport pitching change of the inning, sending Paulicelli and Carr home with a ball blasted past the shortstop.

Sophomore relief pitcher Chris Pyz (Kings Park, N.Y./Kings Park) came on in the eighth inning to seal the victory in a non-save situation. Pyz went two innings with a strikeout and one earned run. The Hawks got that run back for insurance in the bottom of the eighth, courtesy of a RBI single by senior shortstop Paul Merola (Cornwall-on-Hudson, N.Y./Cornwall), which scored sophomore pinch runner Kenny Gentile (Lindenhurst, N.Y./Lindenhurst). Gentile ran for the inning's leadoff hitter, sophomore designated hitter Jimmy Briggs (Lindenhurst, N.Y./Lindenhurst), after he was hit by a pitch.

The Hawks continue action tomorrow, Saturday, March 31, when Brockport returns to continue SUNYAC action in a doubleheader at Loren Campbell Memorial Field. First pitch of game one is scheduled for 12 p.m.