NEW PALTZ, NY — The SUNY New Paltz baseball team picked up a pair of victories over conference rival Fredonia this afternoon at Loren Campbell Field.
Sophomore John DeKams (Kings Park, NY) pitched a complete game shutout and went 3-for-4 with a run batted in to lead SUNY New Paltz to a 5-0 win in the opener.
The Hawks gave DeKams all the run support he would need in the bottom of the first. SUNY New Paltz (9-16, 3-5) scored three times and DeKams helped his own cause with an infield single that scored freshman Javier Lopez (Selden, NY). Later in the inning, junior William Kelts (Waterford, NY) stole home as part of a double steal with junior Jeff Cote’ (Mechanicsville, MD) to put SUNY New Paltz in front 3-0.
In the bottom of the fifth, sophomore Justin Buonamano (Royersford, PA) hit his second home run of the season to extend the SUNY New Paltz lead to 4-0. Junior Matt Zajdel (Agawam, MA) added an RBI single in the inning to put the Hawks in front 5-0. Lopez, Buonamano and Cote’ all had two hits in the opening game win.
DeKams retired the first eight hitters he faced six men over the minimum. He scattered five hits, did not walk a batter, and struck out six to record the first complete game shutout for SUNY New Paltz since April 28, 2001 when Eric Kantner blanked Brockport 8-0.
In game two, junior Blake Crocitto (Lake George, NY) delivered a pinch hit single with two out in the bottom of the tenth to give SUNY New Paltz a 6-5 win. Crocitto’s game-winner drove home Cote’ who was 2-for-4 with three runs scored.
Junior Josh Gutes (Hauppauge, NY) pitched the final three innings to earn the win. Junior Trevor Bailey (W. Hurley, NY) started for SUNY New Paltz. He pitched seven innings and allowed two earned runs, did not walk a batter and struck out four.
Sophomore Mike Austin (Buffalo, NY) went 2-for-5 for Fredonia (2-12, 2-6). Austin came up with an RBI triple in the top of the eighth off Gutes to tie the game at five. Freshman Tom Butler (Verona, NY) was 2-for-4 with two runs batted in. Butler?s two-run double in the seventh gave the Blue Devils a 4-3 lead.
Freshman Matt Bauman (Alden, NY) pitched the 10th inning for Fredonia and took the loss.
