Hawks Split with St. John Fisher in Season Finale

NEW PALTZ, NY — The SUNY New Paltz baseball team won the opener of this afternoon?s doubleheader with St. John Fisher, 10-5, but lost game two, 3-2.

In game two, the Hawks (14-24) entered the bottom of the sixth inning down 2-1. With one down, junior center fielder Vinny McAdams (Little Falls, NY) evened the game at two with a solo home run to left field, his second of the year. SUNY New Paltz, however, was unable keep the game tied. Cardinal junior center fielder Andy Campbell (Manlius, NY) led off the seventh inning with a solo home run of his own to help St. John Fisher steal the victory

Freshman pitcher Michael Virga (Farmingville, NY) took the loss in two innings of relief work. He allowed three hits, one run, walked one and struck out two. Junior pitcher Matt Fuller (Penfield, NY) picked up a complete game win for St. John Fisher (18-14). He allowed five hits, two runs, one earned, walked two and struck out two in seven innings of work.

Cardinal junior second baseman Jeff Fetzner (Rochester, NY) went 3-for-4 with a run scored and a run batted in.

St. John Fisher held the lead for only a half an inning in the opener. Sophomore shortstop Michael Palermo (Spencerport, NY) doubled in Fetzner in the top of the second to put the Cardinals up 1-0. The Hawks, however, responded with five runs in the bottom of the inning and never looked back. Junior catcher Josh Gutes (Hauppauge, NY) knocked in junior first baseman Matt Zajdel (Agwam, MA), who led off the inning with a double. Junior right fielder Jeff Cote’ (Mechanicsville, MD) followed with a sacrifice fly and junior second baseman William Kelts (Waterford, NY) cleared the bases with a three-run homer, his second of the season.

St. John Fisher made it close with three runs in the top of the fifth, but the Hawks added two insurance runs in the bottom of the inning to keep the Cardinals at bay. Sophomore left fielder Justin Buonamano (Royersford, PA) had a RBI single, as did McAdams and Cote’ had a two-run double to ensure the win for SUNY New Paltz. Sophomore pitcher Ryan Schafer (Oceanside, NY) earned his first win of the year. He allowed seven hits, four runs, walked one and struck out two in six innings of work.