Box Score Oneonta, NY — Trailing by a run heading into the top of the fifth inning, seniors Nick DePietro and Chris Moran stepped up for the State University of New York at New Paltz baseball team to grab their team the lead.
 
DePietro led off the inning with a base hit and followed up with a stolen base. Moran then continued his hot hitting and knocked in DePietro for the game-tying run and two batters later crossed home plate himself to put the Hawks (15-14 overall, 8-7 SUNYAC) on top and propel the eventual, 3-1, victory over the Red Dragons (11-21, 6-10) Friday.
 
Luke Christy got the start on the mound for SUNY New Paltz and gave up one earned run through 5.2 innings pitched, while allowing just eight hits and two walks with two strikeouts.
 
SUNY Oneonta got on the board early in the second inning. Mickey Mullins led off the inning with a single through the left side and a batter later James Ceparano batted him in with a single up the middle.
 
Christy and SUNY New Paltz's defense limited the damage from there. Dwayne Page threw out Ceparano at second on an attempted steal and Christy closed out the top of the second with an infield fly-out.
 
The Hawks capitalized offensively in the top of the fifth, as Moran knocked a single down the right field line to bring in DePietro from second. Anthony Pantano followed with a double down the left field line, advancing Moran to third. Brian Brenton followed with a walk, and a wild pitch during the next at-bat advanced all three runners and brought Moran home for the go-ahead run.
 
SUNY New Paltz added an insurance run in the sixth inning. John McCarrick led off with a walk and Ryan Frost followed that up with a single to right center, advancing McCarrick to third. DePietro then scored McCarrick after fouling out to right field to give the Hawks a 3-1 advantage.
 
"Down 1-0 Moran came up with a huge hit down the right field line," said Hawks coach Arlan Freeman. "McCarrick also played great at third base and had a heads up base running play at third on a foul ball."
 
Ryan Votypka came in to relieve Christy in the last 3.1 innings and was lights out. He walked just two and struck out two, while allowing no hits in 11 batters faced to earn his third save of the season.
 
"We played well enough to win and that's what matters," Freeman said. "Christy and Votypka pitched really well and we came up with big defensive plays when we needed it."
 
SUNY New Paltz was aggressive around the bases, totaling five stolen bases in the game. DePietro led his team with two, while also adding one run and an RBI. Moran also finished with a hit, one run scored and an RBI, while Pantano went 2-for-4 with a double.
 
The win, compiled with a Fredonia State loss to Plattsburgh State Friday, puts SUNY New Paltz in position to clinch the No. 3 seed in the SUNYAC tournament with one more victory over the Red Dragons.
 
The Hawks are set to take on SUNY Onenota in a double-header Saturday starting at 10 a.m. at Damaschke Field. Be sure to follow @nphawks on Twitter and @newpaltzhawks on Instagram and Facebook for updates, highlights, videos, photos and more.