Nine run fifth and Merola eighth inning double leads Hawks to victory

NEW PALTZ, NY- The SUNY New Paltz baseball team hosted cross town rival Vassar College Wednesday evening and defeated the Brewers 15-10. The Brewers defeated the Hawks 7-2 just two days ago, but the Hawks pounded out 19 hits in today’s victory.

Sal Constanzo led the Brewers from the plate going 4-for-5 with one run and five RBI’s and Ari Glantz was 3-for-5 with one run scored. David Ringold and Liam Lee each added two hits, one run and one RBI in the loss.

The Hawks were led by senior Tyler Terlecky (Binghamton, NY/Binghamton) who was 3-for-4 with two runs and one RBI and senior Devin Scalabrini (Peekskill, Mahopac) was 4-for-5 with two runs scored. Freshman Paul Merola (Cornwall on-Hudson, NY/Cornwall) was 3-for-5 with three runs and three RBI’s and every starter for the Hawks had at least one hit.

Vassar scored two early in the top of the third on a two-run single by Sal Constanzo that scored Ari Glantz and Joe Bubar.

The Hawks opened up the game in the bottom of the fifth with nine runs. Scalabrini led off with a single followed by a fielder’s choice and error by Vassar’s Jeremy Pollack that allowed sophomore Michael Marash (Cortlandt Manor, NY/Hendrick Hudson) to reach first. Freshman Alex Donatelli (Port Washington, NY/Port Washington) singled home Scalabrini. Freshman Chris Paulicelli (Lindenhurst, NY/Lindenhurst) doubled down the right field line to score Marash and Donatelli and cut the Brewers lead to 9-3. Freshman Mike Sherlock (Liverpool, NY/Cicero-North Syracuse) singled and Merola followed up with a two-run single. Batters later Clinton Boettcher (Hyde Park, NY/FDR) blasted a three-run homerun to center field to give the Hawks a 9-2 lead.

The Brewers would score three in the top of the sixth to cut into the lead with a David Ringold and Liam Lee RBI single. Adam Murphy had an RBI groundout for Vassar’s third run of the inning. The Brewers would score one in the seventh and four in the eighth to tie the game at 10-10.

In the bottom of the eighth the Hawks scored five runs and were able to hold onto the lead. Merola recorded the game-winning RBI on a double into the right field corner as Paulicelli would score on the play. Marash had a two-run single and freshman Matt O’Neill (West Chester, PA/Henderson High) added an RBI single in the inning.

Zachary Prudoff recorded the loss on the mound allowing five runs (5 ER) on four hits and walking two in just two-thirds of an inning. Starter Jeremy Pollack allowed nine runs (7 ER) on 11 hits in five innings of work. Vassar falls to 5-16 overall on the season.

Hawks starter John Giuliano (Pine Bush, NY/Pine Bush) allowed five runs (5 ER) on ten hits and struck out five in five innings of work and received a no-decision. Sophomore Eric Holzapple (Hicksville, NY/Hicksville) earned the victory on the mound allowing one hit and striking two in one and one-third innings of work. New Paltz improves to 8-18 overall and 2-4 in the SUNYAC.

The Hawks start a four game road trip starting with a doubleheader against Oswego Saturday afternoon and finish up with two against Cortland on Sunday.