Chelius saves game two; Hawks split with Plattsburgh

NEW PALTZ, NY- The SUNY New Paltz baseball team hosted conference opponent Plattsburgh Sunday afternoon and split with the Cardinals. The Cardinals took game one 7-2 and the Hawks came back in the bottom of the eighth for the 7-6 victory in the nightcap.

In the nightcap, the Cardinals scored first in the top half of the second with a Pat Shaughnessy solo homerun for the early lead. Senior Tyler Terlecky (Binghamton, NY/Binghamton) led the bottom half of the second off with a double, but the next two batters recorded an out and Terlecky was able to advanced to third on a groundout. Sophomore Michael Marash’s (Cortlandt Manor, NY/Hendrick Hudson) RBI single tied the game and he would advanced to third on a single by freshman Philip Parker (Brooklyn, NY/Xaverian). Parker stole second which drew a throw from the Cardinals catcher that allowed Marash to steal home to take the 2-1 lead.

With the game 3-2 in favor of the Hawks, the Cardinals would score three in the top of the eighth to take a 5-3 lead. The Hawks stormed back in the bottom half of the eighth with four runs all with two outs. Terlecky kept the inning alive with a single and senior Devin Scalabrini’s (Peekskill, NY/Mahopac) double sent Terlecky home to start the rally. Marash added another RBI single and Scalabrini scored on a wild pitch to help give the Hawks the 7-5 lead.

In the ninth, sophomore pitcher Brett Harrison (Merrick, NY/Bellmore JFK) ran into some trouble, but freshman Timmy Chelius (Rockville Centre, NY/South Side) came in to get the save and hold off the Cardinals ninth inning rally.

Matt Kelley was 2-for-4 with three RBI’s and John Campbell was 2-for-5 with two runs for the Cardinals in the loss. Campbell recorded the loss on the mound giving up two runs on one hit and not recording an out.

Senior pitcher Jimmy Donohue (Deer Park, NY/Deer Park) recorded the no decision on the mound allowing five runs on six hits in seven and a third innings and striking out six. Harrison recorded the win on the mound allowing one run on one hit in two thirds of an inning and Chelius recorded his first save of his career in the 7-6 victory.

In the first game, Plattsburgh took the 1-0 lead in the top of the third, but the Hawks would take the lead in the bottom of the fifth with two runs. Plattsburgh would tally two in the sixth and four in the seventh for the 7-2 victory.

Kyle Kowalowski was 3-for-5 with two runs and one RBI and Pat Shaughnessy was 2-for-3 with one run for the Cardinals. Matt Kelley was 2-for-5 with two runs and one RBI and Joe Curcio was 2-for-5 with one run and one RBI to help the Cardinals take the first game.

Matt O’Leary recorded the win on the mound allowing two runs on ten hits, striking out five and walking three batters. With the split Plattsburgh improves to 13-7 overall and 1-1 in the SUNYAC.

The Hawks were lead by freshman Chris Paulicelli (Lindenhurst, NY/Lindenhurst) with four hits in five plate appearances and one run. Freshman Paul Merola (Cornwall on Hudson, NY/Cornwall) was 2-for-4 and one run and Terlecky was 2-for-4 with two RBI’s for the Hawks.

Senior pitcher Jonathan Shanks (Millbrook, NY/Millbrook) recorded the loss on the mound allowing six runs on nine hits and striking out three in six and a third innings. Junior Tristan Greene (East Hampton, NY/East Hampton) pitched the final two and two third innings allowing one run on three hits for the Hawks. The Hawks improve to 5-15 overall and 2-4 in the SUNYAC.

The Hawks return to the field on Tuesday against RPI at 4 p.m. on Loren Campbell Field on the campus of SUNY New Paltz.