UTICA, NY — The baseball team traveled to SUNYIT today for a SUNYAC doubleheader and split with the Wildcats, winning the first 12-4 before dropping the night cap 3-2.
In game one, the Hawks broke open a tight 7-4 game in the top of the ninth inning scoring five runs on six hits for the 12-4 win. The Wildcats took the early 3-0 lead in the first inning before New Paltz pitcher Zachary Potter struck out 12 Cat batters recording at least one K an inning and allowed just five hits in a complete-game.
The Hawks would slowly chip away at the early Wildcat lead scoring one in the third, one in the fourth, three in fifth to take the lead, and two more in the sixth for a 7-3 lead. SUNYIT would score its only other run in the eighth on a New Paltz error. Alex Cadmus led the visitors with four RBI in the contest and Tyler Terlecky had three hits.
In game two, SUNYIT took a 1-0 lead in the first inning when a third strike passed ball allowed the runner on third to score. The Hawks tied the game in the fourth on a Cadmus RBI single and the game would stay that way until the bottom of the sixth. With two outs in the Wildcat sixth, Ben Bushey walked and freshman Martin Bueno pinch ran for him and tried to steal second. The throw from the New Paltz catcher, however, went into center field and Bueno made it all the way home for the go-ahead run.
In the top of the seventh, Devin Scalabrini reached on a SUNYIT error. He was sacrificed over to second but made it an extra base as the Cats failed to cover third. With two outs, Jesse Marsh walked and immediately took off for second to try and catch the Cats off guard and get Scalabrini home. Scalabrini made a dash for the plate and a Wildcat throwing error allowed him to score to tie the game at 2-2.
The Cats pulled the victory out in the bottom of the seventh with three hits and one run for the 3-2 decision. Jonathan Shanks took the loss allowing three runs (one earned), six hits, three walks and striking out five batters.
