UTICA, N.Y. – Two weeks after their originally-scheduled date for a league doubleheader, the State University of New York at New Paltz (17-14, 4-8 SUNYAC) and The College at Brockport (18-11, 7-6 SUNYAC) baseball teams finally met on Sunday at Wildcat Field on the campus of SUNYIT. While the Hawks lost game one, 9-5, they rebounded with yet another walk-off victory off another walk-off hit by sophomore catcher David Lostaglio (Milton, N.Y./Marlboro Central), topping the Golden Eagles, 8-7, in 11 innings in game two.

Game one's scoring began with Brockport in the top of the second, as Stephen Boronczyk and Brendan Swayne hit one-run and two-run singles through the left side, respectively. Junior right fielder Thomas Pinnola (North Babylon, N.Y./North Babylon) had a hand in New Paltz's counter in the bottom of the third, as he drove in two runs with a triple to center field and proceeded to score on a wild pitch.

Pete Wilson smacked an RBI double to right in the fourth before three runs came across in the fifth to give the Golden Eagles a 7-3 cushion. The New Paltz half of the sixth saw the Hawks draw within two. A throwing error by the pitcher on a sacrifice bunt attempt allowed junior third baseman Matt Prescia (Oakdale, N.Y./Connetquot) to come across, and junior center fielder Matt Carr (Westbury, N.Y./Long Island Lutheran) wound up plating Lostaglio with a sacrifice fly to right. Brockport tacked on a pair of insurance runs in the seventh and dealt the Hawks their fourth defeat of the weekend.

Senior pitcher John Schmidt (East Islip, N.Y./East Islip) was tagged with the loss for New Paltz in the front end of the twinbill, going four innings and yielding seven runs off nine hits and two walks while striking out two. Freshman pitcher Roy Missall (Hemlock, N.Y./Honeoye Central) hurled 2 2/3 frames in relief and permitted two runs off four hits and two walks while striking out one. Finally, freshman pitcher Mike Sparacino (Commack, N.Y./Commack) registered the final out in the top of the seventh to complete New Paltz's usage of pitchers for the contest.

For Brockport, Travis Renwick went 5 2/3 innings and was credited with the win, scattering eight hits and allowing five runs, three of which were earned. He also struck out one and walked one. Justin McCarthy earned the save after holding the Hawks hitless in 1 1/3 innings in relief.

Prescia paced the New Paltz attack with a 3-for-3 performance that included one run and a double. Carr also had a multi-hit game, batting 2-for-3 with a run scored and an RBI. The Golden Eagles relied on multi-hit performances from Wilson (2-for-5, RBI, double), Mike DeGregory (2-for-4, two runs scored, RBI, double, stolen base), Boronczyk (2-for-4, two runs scored, RBI) and Swayne (3-for-3, four RBI, run scored).

Game two featured a reversal of fortunes for the Hawks, but it did not come easily.

Pinnola picked up where he left off in the first, as he scored junior shortstop Steven Morse (East Northport, N.Y./Commack) with an RBI double to right field. New Paltz made it a 3-0 game in the second, as senior left fielder Mike Sherlock (Liverpool, N.Y./Cicero-North Syracuse) and Carr each had RBI hits. The Golden Eagles got two back in the third, as Wilson brought in Swayne with an RBI triple to right center before Corey Booth singled up the middle to score Wilson.

Senior first baseman Billy Ruggiero (East Northport, N.Y./St. Anthony's) doubled the Hawks' advantage with a sacrifice fly in the third, and both teams went scoreless in the fourth and fifth frames. Brockport saw two unearned runs come across in the sixth before Swayne came home on a wild pitch in the seventh to give the Golden Eagles their first lead of the ballgame. New Paltz answered back in the seventh, as Prescia pushed across Pinnola with a sacrifice fly before Lostaglio scored on a passed ball.

Brockport regained the lead in the eighth with a Swayne double down the left-field line, which lasted until Merola tied the score at 7-all with a sacrifice fly in the home half of the frame.

After sophomore pitcher Anthony Repetto (North Babylon, N.Y./North Babylon) and McCarthy went blow for blow in the late innings, Lostaglio recreated his walk-off magic from last weekend. With two outs and the winning run on third, he singled to right field, giving New Paltz a much-needed conference victory.

Sophomore pitcher Chris Pyz (Kings Park, N.Y./Kings Park) drew the start on the hill for the Hawks and went six innings. He scattered six hits and permitted four runs, two of which were earned. Sophomore pitcher Mike Pastorino (Stormville, N.Y./John Jay) tossed one frame in relief, in which he surrendered one run off one hit, one walk and a wild pitch, before giving way to Repetto. Repetto moved to 2-0 for the year in the four-inning winning effort out of the bullpen, yielding two runs off five hits to go along with one strikeout.

James Williamson threw 5 1/3 innings for Brockport and gave up four runs off eight hits, two walks and a hit-by-pitch with four strikeouts. McCarthy—who earned the save in game one—was tagged with the loss, as he tossed 5 1/3 innings in relief. He allowed four runs—one of which was earned—off five hits and a walk while striking out two.

Pinnola ignited the Hawk attack with a 3-for-6 outing that included two doubles, an RBI and a run scored. Senior third baseman Mike Marash (Cortlandt Manor, N.Y./Hendrick Hudson) went 2-for-5 with a run scored and a double, while Prescia hit 2-for-3 with a run scored and an RBI. Three Golden Eagles posted three hits: Kyle Tracy (3-for-5, two runs scored, double), DeGregory (3-for-5, RBI) and Swayne (3-for-4, two runs scored, two RBI, two doubles).

New Paltz returns to the diamond on Wednesday, April 18, as it faces St. Joseph's (LI) College at 4 p.m. in Patchogue, N.Y., for a non-conference game.