SUNY New Paltz Baseball Splits Twinbill With Quakers

FORT PIERCE, FL — Six innings of shutout baseball provided by sophomore pitcher Jeff Stith (Selden, NY) carried the SUNY New Paltz baseball team to a 5-1 defeat of Earlham College in game one of today’s doubleheader. Earlham College, however, evened the score in game two with a 10-3 victory.

Stith kept the Quakers guessing throughout game one to lead SUNY New Paltz (7-6) to a 5-1 triumph. In six innings of work, Stith allowed only three hits, while walking four and striking out 12 to pick up his second win of the season. Junior designated hitter John DeKams (Kings Park, NY) laced an RBI single down the right field line in the first inning and blasted a two-out, base clearing, three RBI double in the second inning to give Stith all the run support he needed, early in the contest. Senior outfielder Bill Kelts (Waterford, NY) followed, in the second, with a single to left field, knocking in DeKams to give the Hawks a 5-0 lead through two innings.

Earlham College (3-6) managed a run in the seventh off SUNY New Paltz relief pitcher, senior Ryan Schafer (Oceanside, NY). Schafer closed out the affair, however, striking out senior catcher Derreck Parkevich (Logansport, IN). Junior shortstop Daniel Garcia (Patterson, NY) collected two hits, scored once and stole a base for the Hawks.

Earlham College (4-6) put together seven runs on seven hits in the second inning of game two to grab an early, 7-2, edge on the Hawks. SUNY New Paltz (7-7) threatened with a run in the third off the bat of senior first baseman Matt Zajdel (Agawam, MA), but could not continue the rally against the Quakers’ freshman pitcher Randy Kerns (West Manchester, OH), who allowed nine hits and three runs, while walking two and striking out four in the complete game effort.

Despite picking up his third loss of the year, DeKams was perfect from the plate in game two. DeKams went 2-for-2 with a run and a RBI. Zajdel collected two hits and two RBI in the affair.

DeKams is has collected 22 hits in 46 at-bats so far this Spring to lead SUNY New Paltz with a .478 batting average. He has knocked in, a team-high, 21 runs while posting a .739 slugging percentage.

Senior pitcher Joe Gugliotta (Bayport, NY) will look to earn his first win of 2006 as he takes the mound tomorrow, Tuesday, March 21 against Grinnell in a 12:00 pm contest.