ASHLAND, VA — The SUNY New Paltz baseball team wrapped up their three-game series against Randolph-Macon College with a 20-11 loss this afternoon at Hugh Stephens Field. The Hawks dropped to 0-3 while the Yellow Jackets improved to 4-6.
The Hawks jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning when sophomore shortstop Pete Esposito (Brooklyn, NY), who went 4-for-5 in the game, hit a two-out single to drive home the two runs. Randolph-Macon tied the game at 2-2 with a pair of runs in the bottom of the first inning.
The New Paltz bats remained hot as they exploded for six runs over the next two innings, including a two RBI double by sophomore catcher Josh Gutes (Hauppauge, NY) in the second inning. The Yellow Jackets responded with six runs of their own over the next three innings as the game headed into the fifth inning knotted at 8.
New Paltz regained the lead for the final time with two runs in the top of the fifth inning. With the bases loaded, freshman designated hitter John DeKams (Kings Park, NY) reached base on a fielder’s choice, which brought home freshman rightfielder George Perry (Port Jervis, NY) and junior third baseman Phil Scaglione (Stony Point, NY).
The Yellow Jackets recaptured the lead with five runs in the bottom of the inning and would go on to score seven more runs over the final three innings en route to the 20-11 victory.
Esposito and Gutes each notched three RBI’s in the game and DeKams went 5-for-7 with three doubles and two runs scored in the three-game series.
New Paltz returns to the diamond when they travel to Virginia to play a doubleheader against Mary Washington College on Saturday, March 6th beginning at 12:00 pm.
