FORT PIERCE, FLA. — The SUNY New Paltz baseball team again fell short in two games on Sunday in Fort Pierce, Fla.
In game one against Buena Vista (Iowa), the Hawk pitchers continued to struggle to throw strikes, which contributed to a six-run deficit after just three innings, and an eight run margin after five innings. New Paltz rallied to make the game interesting in the bottom half of the fifth, scoring seven unearned runs after a two-out error on Beaver shortstop Quinn Hildman, but falling short in the end, 8-7.
Later, New Paltz starter Eric Kantner (New Hampton, NY/Goshen) kept the game close for 6 1/3 innings in a steady downpour, as the Hawks managed a 10-10 seven-inning tie with St. Scholastica (Minn.).
Freshman Erik Nilsen (New Paltz, NY/New Paltz) had a two-run homer and junior Brian Clarke (L. Sackville, Nova Scotia/ L. Sackville) had a double to key New Paltz’s five-run seventh.
The (1-5-1) Hawks wrap up their Florida trip with another game against St. Scholastica at 9 a.m. Monday.
