Box Score The State University of New York at New Paltz baseball team found themselves down 6-0 against No. 23 Oswego State heading into the eighth inning, but started to come up with their best offense of the weekend when they needed to make the comeback. Unfortunately, the rally wasn't quite enough to overcome the Lakers lead and the Hawks fell 6-4 in the final game of the SUNYAC series. 

The Hawks started slow, giving up five runs in the opening frame, but then started to settle into the game defensively. Senior right-handed pitcher Luke Christy got the start and after the tough first inning, hung in there and went another four innings without giving up another run. Christy and the SUNY New Paltz defense only allowed two hits in the next four innings pitched with Christy on the mound. Junior right-handed pitcher Michael Delio stepped up next and continued to hold back the powerful Laker offfense. However, Delio found himself in a hole with the bases loaded and nobody out in the bottom of the seventh. Delio remained calm and was able to force a double play from the next batter and strike out the following hitter to keep the game within reach for SUNY New Paltz.

Luke Chrsity pitched great and I'm really proud of his performance today," said head coach Arlan Freeman. "His changeup was devastating and really kept them off balance. All of our pitchers did a great job battling and giving our offense that opportunity at fighting back."

After the superb effort to only give up one run in the seventh, the Hawks offense came alive in the eighth. Brian Brenton and Ryan Frost singled to start the inning off and when senior outfielder Nick DePietro got hit by a pitch, SUNY New Paltz had the bases loaded with nobody out. Junior outfielder Danny Campbell brought home the first run with a well hit sacrifice fly to center field. Two batter later, senior third baseman Jake Williams came up with a clutch two-out double to score Frost and DePietro and bring the score back to a three-run game. 

J.T. Carroll came on in relief to attempt to hold the Lakers advantage to 6-3. After allowing a run to reach third with two stolen bases, Carroll came up big and forced a ground ball to shortstop to keep the comeback hopes alive.

Needing another three-run inning, senior co-captain Dwayne Page started the rally with a single through the left side. Two batters later, Frost singled to left field and aggressive base running forced a throwing error and Page was able to score. DePietro represented the tying run as he stepped to the plate and the senior hit a rocket, but the ball wasn't able to find the turf and the Lakers escaped with the win.

"It came down to one inning," said Freeman. "The first inning was rough and we had opportunities to get out of it and we didn't. The ball just wasn't bouncing our way this weekend, but Oswego is a really good team and they'll be there at the end competing for the SUNYAC title."

Frost finished 2-for-4 on the day while Williams went 1-for-2 with two RBIs and two walks. The Hawks move to 7-9 overall, but they have the chance to bounce back on the winning side with a non-conference matchup against Ramapo College on Monday at home at 4 p.m.

"We didn't play New Paltz baseball," said Freeman. "But just like everything we do it's about learning and getting better and I believe we're going to come out of this weekend stronger as a unit." 

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