Box Score The State University of New York at New Paltz baseball team used powerful hitting to take out SUNYAC foe Plattsburgh State 8-5 Friday at Loren Campbell Memorial Field. Senior first baseman Chris Moran hammered two home runs in the game, and he did it against his former teammate.
 
"The pitcher I hit them off of is one of my buddies from high school," said Moran. "I had a little inside scoop on what he was going to throw me, but it was a great team win."
 
The multi-home run performance came two days after Moran's birthday, which is a date he thrives around at the plate. Last season, Moran knocked two home runs against Fredonia State the day before his birthday in a 10-7 win.
 
Moran wasn't the only one celebrating a recent birthday in style, starting pitcher Luke Christy's birthday was Thursday and he celebrated it by earning the win on the mound. Christy threw seven innings and only allowed one earned run while striking out seven batters.
 
The first three innings of the game were powered by strong defense and pitching, with a combined four runners reaching base between both teams. However, Plattsburgh State opened up the offense in the fourth inning with a lead-off double followed up with an RBI single. However, with the bases loaded Christy stayed tough and forced a groundout to shortstop to get out of the inning with minimal damage.
 
Head coach Arlan Freeman has preached to his team all year long to answer back when they give up a run, and with two outs in the bottom of the fourth, Moran hit his first home run of the day to even up the score.

That's gone! @ChrisMoran2103 rockets a ball well past the center field wall to tie the game up at 1 for @NP_BaseballD3 in the bottom of the fourth @SUNYACsports pic.twitter.com/06cRiE1BKa

— New Paltz Hawks (@nphawks) April 13, 2018

"Chris had really been starting to hit the ball hard and find his groove," said Freeman. "Coach Cesca actually called it. He told me yesterday that Moran was going to hit a home run; he just didn't know it was going to be two."
 
After the shaky fourth inning, Christy found his stride again and rolled through the next two innings. Christy and the Hawks defense held the Cardinals at one run to set up an explosive sixth inning. With two outs and nobody on, junior shortstop Ryan Frost stepped up and drove a double over the left fielder's head. After reigning SUNYAC Player of the Week Jake Williams drew a walk, Moran stepped up to the plate and destroyed a curveball over the left field fence for a three-run home run.
 

Make it two!!! @ChrisMoran2103 knocks a 3-run shot for his second homer of the day & gives @NP_BaseballD3 4- lead in bottom 6th @SUNYACsports pic.twitter.com/gm2jq3symW

— New Paltz Hawks (@nphawks) April 13, 2018

"It was just my job to hit a line drive somewhere," said Moran. "He threw me an 0-1 hanging curveball and I just took advantage of it."
 
This time it was the Cardinals turn to answer back with a two-out rally and they closed the gap to 4-2. However, senior right-fielder Brian Brenton wasn't going to let Moran do all the damage, as he pounded a two-RBI double to right field. SUNY New Paltz wasn't able to keep the rally alive and ended the seventh inning with a 6-2 lead.
 
Freeman turned to senior right-handed pitcher Jeff Sarra in the top of the eighth to relieve Christy. Sarra gave up back-to-back singles to start the inning, but was able to pitch his way out of the jam and hold the four-run lead.
 
In the bottom of the eighth, the Hawks were looking to add some insurance and they did just that behind the bat of Brenton yet again. After Williams doubled to lead off the inning, the Cardinals intentionally walked Moran to put two runners on. Sophomore designated hitter Zach Warenius moved the runners into scoring position and Brenton delivered a clutch single to right-center bumping the lead to 8-2.
 

Some clutch hitting again by @BBrenton15 finds the gap in right center & plates @bobzules & @ChrisMoran2103 to boost @NP_BaseballD3 lead 8-2 bottom 8th over @PburghCardinals pic.twitter.com/wF7sQP7kPq

— New Paltz Hawks (@nphawks) April 13, 2018

The insurance runs came in handy for SUNY New Paltz as Plattsburgh State put together its best rally of the game in the top of the ninth. However, after allowing three runs and with the bases loaded, Freeman turned to junior right-handed pitcher Ryan Votypka who stepped in and struck out the final batter to end the game.
 
"I'm really proud of Brian and Chris," said Freeman. "They stuck with their approach and believed in themselves and came up with big hits."
 
Christy picked up the win and improved to 2-2 on the season for the Hawks. Offensively, all eight RBIs came from Moran and Brenton, who added four each. SUNY New Paltz plays two more games against the Cardinals starting tomorrow at 11:30 a.m. The games will be streamed live on the NewPaltzHawks Facebook account and will have live stats at portal.stretchinternet.com/nphawks.