SUNY New Paltz Downs Vassar

NEW PALTZ, NY — The SUNY New Paltz baseball team came away with a 7-1 victory against Vassar College this afternoon. The Hawks have now won two of three from the Brewers this season.

Freshman pitcher Jeff Stith (Selden, NY) held Vassar scoreless on five hits into the ninth when Vassar sophomore first baseman Matt Elias (Brooklyn, NY) broke the shutout with his second home run of the year. Stith got the next batter to ground out to first and then struck out catcher Sean Handy (Westfield, MA) to end the game.

Stith received plenty of run support from his teammates. Freshman third baseman Javier Lopez (Selden, NY) put the Hawks on the board in the second inning with a RBI single and junior first baseman Matt Zajdel (Agwam, MA) followed with a two-run double to put SUNY New Paltz in front early, 3-0. The Hawks (13-23) would add three more runs in the bottom of the fifth. Sophomore left fielder Justin Buonamano (Royersford, PA) doubled in junior right fielder Jeff Coteý (Mechanicsville, MD) and junior second baseman William Kelts (Waterford, NY) singled in Buonamano to put the Hawks up 6-0. Sophomore designated hitter John DeKams (Kings Park, NY) went 2-for-4 with a run scored and a RBI double in the sixth to give Stith the seven run cushion. Junior catcher Josh Gutes (Hauppauge, NY) went 2-for-4.

Freshman pitcher Dan Orne (Cambridge, MA) took the loss for Vassar (13-23) in only two innings of work. Stith grabbed his third win of the year, pitching all nine innings, he allowed six hits, one run, walked two and struck out seven.

The Hawks will play their final home game of the year tomorrow, May 3, against St. John Fisher at 1:00 p.m.