FISHKILL, N.Y. -- The State University of New York at New Paltz baseball team opened its season with a double header against Mount Saint Mary College Saturday. The Hawks and the Knights split the Hudson Valley match up earning 5-1 and 3-2 victories, respectively.

In game one, SUNY New Paltz struggled at the plate early on, as Mount St. Mary pitcher Alexander Maher held the Hawks hitless until there were two outs in the fourth inning when Matt Warshaw broke the ice. However, SUNY New Paltz could not capitalize on Warshaw's hit and trailed 2-0 heading into the fifth. 

"We couldn't get anything going and I credit Maher," Hawks skipper Thomas Seay said. "He was good. He was locating his fast ball well. He commanded the zone and spun his breaking ball. We were trying to do a bit too much at the plate. We were taking some big swings."

The deficit for the Hawks remained at two until the top of the seventh when they needed to plate two runs to extend the game. They did just that. Ryan Geraghty led things off with a triple to right-center field. He scored on a wild pitch before Julian Francisco walked and Jesse Keshner singled advancing Francisco to third base. The next batter, Warshaw, grounded out second, but it was enough to score Francisco and tie the game. 

"Geraghty had a great at bat to get things started. We've been working on him being able to drive the ball the other way. That's what we needed to get going," Seay said. 

After retiring the Knights in the bottom of the seventh, SUNY New Paltz loaded the bases in the top of the eighth after Matt Laurelli, Matt McGee, and Geraghty all walked. However, with two outs Francisco grounded out to end the inning.

In the bottom of the eighth, the Knights also loaded the bases. They were able to capitalize when Liam Merlin hit a walkoff single up the middle. 

Senior captain Anthony Amoroso started the game on the mound for the Hawks. He pitched four innings allowing five hits and conceding two runs. He struck out three batters. 

In game two, SUNY New Paltz struck in the first inning when Keshner drove in McGee and Dean Stalzer on a double to right center field. The bats were quiet for both teams after the top of the first, as Hawks' starting pitcher Nick Harvey controlled the game. Harvey pitched five innings, allowing four hits and one run. He struck out one batter. 

"Nick was really good," Seay said. "He had his fastball going. For a freshman to go five quality innings on a cold day like this is awesome."

Mount St. Mary finally got to Harvey in the fifth inning when Jaiden Bonet hit an RBI single to cut the Knights' deficit to one. With the tying run on third and the go-ahead run on first, Harvey was able to limit the damage and force a ground out to retire the side.

SUNY New Paltz got that run right back in the top of the sixth after an error by the Knights. Geraghty got credit for the RBI and Francisco scored the run that put the Hawks up 3-1. Scott Wagner came on in relief for the Hawks in the bottom of the sixth and struck out two batters in a scoreless frame. 

SUNY New Paltz tacked on two more runs in the top of the seventh after a McGee double, a Keshner RBI single, a Francisco sacrifice bunt, and a John McCarrick RBI single. That was plenty of insurance for Wagner who sealed the deal without allowing a run in the bottom of the seventh.

Seay said, "Overall, we were outstanding on the mound and defensively. We're excited to strap it up again tomorrow against Stevens at 1 p.m."

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