Box Score New Paltz, NY - The State University of New York at New Paltz baseball team celebrated senior day in a big way by defeating No. 6 SUNY Cortland 8-6. The victory marked the first time that the Hawks have beaten the Red Dragons at home since 2011 and snapped SUNY Cortland's 20-game win streak.
 
SUNY Cortland's pitching staff is one of the best in the country, entering the weekend with a 1.96 ERA, the second best in all of Division III. The eight runs scored by SUNY New Paltz is tied for the most runs allowed by the Red Dragon pitching staff this season. The last time they gave up more than four runs in a game was 27 games ago on March 4.

Just like both games of the doubleheader on Saturday, SUNY Cortland recorded a run in the top of the first inning. After almost clawing back into the opening game of the series, the Hawks knew what it would take to come back and take out one of the best teams in the country. Trailing 4-0 in the fourth inning, the seniors decided to step up and deliver clutch hitting. Senior third baseman Jake Williams led off the inning with a shot in the left center gap, which he easily stretched into a double. Fellow senior Chris Moran was up next, and despite first base being open, the Red Dragons decided to pitch to the hottest hitter in the SUNY New Paltz lineup. Moran was all over the pitcher from the beginning, hitting two long foul balls down the line. He continued to read the pitcher well and was finally able to straighten out the ball as he crushed it down the left field line and over the fence for his fifth home run in the last eight games.
 
"It felt great," said Moran. "It was a curveball again, he had thrown me three curveballs in a row and I hit two foul, but I was able to get my hands through and kept it in play."
 
Senior right-handed pitcher Conor Donachie got the start on the mound and was able to limit the damage early on from the lethal SUNY Cortland offense. Donachie allowed a lead-off single in the fifth, but was able to get out of the inning and strand the runner on base to hold the lead at two runs.
 
With a chance to chip away at the lead again, SUNY New Paltz took advantage and tied up the game in the bottom of the fourth thanks to more clutch hitting from Williams and Moran. With two outs, and Ryan Frost and Dwayne Page on base, Williams hit a line drive over the shortstop's head to score Frost from second base. Moran followed it up by driving a single the opposite way to bring home Page and tie up the game, however, Williams was injured rounding second base and the inning came to an end.
 
"To have Jake Williams, one of our leaders, one of our best players, get hurt in the fifth inning and have a bunch of other guys step up to make it a complete team win is a testament to our guys," said head coach Arlan Freeman.
 
The energy gained by the Hawks in the last two innings was sucked out of field as Williams was helped off. The relentless offense from the Red Dragons regained the lead in the top of the sixth by scoring two more runs. However, senior Nick DePietro brought some life back in the bottom half with a lead off single to right field. After an interference call took DePietro out, senior Brian Brenton drew a walk and junior Danny Campbell took a pitch off the hands to load the bases. The SUNY Cortland pitcher felt the pressure with Frost at the plate and let one get away to score sophomore pinch-runner Matt Warshaw from third.
 
Junior right-handed pitcher Ryan Votypka took over for Donachie in the sixth, but he really found his stride in the next inning. Votypka recorded all three outs in the seventh, with two strikeouts and a quick reaction on a come-backer up the middle.
 
"Coming into the game today I felt a little iffy, but I got some work done by the trainers and I felt good enough, went out there, and did well so I'm pretty happy," said Votypka.
 
The SUNY New Paltz offense continued to put pressure on the Red Dragons and took its first lead of the series in the bottom of the seventh. Sophomore catcher Zachary Warenius was called on to pinch hit with Page on second base and laid down a solid sacrifice bunt attempt with two strikes on him. However, a perfect throw by the first baseman gunned down Page at third base to record the first out of the inning. Moran stepped to the plate with one out and a runner on first, but this time SUNY Cortland wasn't going to test his bat and intentionally walked him. The decision didn't work out as DePietro stayed patient at the plate to draw another walk and load the bases.
 
The Red Dragons turned to the bullpen, but sophomore pinch-hitter Julian Francisco took one for the team off the arm and brought home the tying run. The pressure continued to build and with Brenton at the plate the catcher was unable to squeeze a high fastball and Moran came across the plate to take the lead. Junior outfielder Danny Campbell stepped up next and rocketed a ball right back at the pitcher to score DePietro and take a two-run lead heading into the eighth inning.
 
Votypka stayed hot on the mound and struck out the last two batters of the eighth to strand runners on second and third. Three outs away from the upset, Votypka continued to pound the plate and finished out the game with an easy 1,2,3 inning.
 
"It's huge, I mean for the seniors it's their last day on the home field probably, so it feels good to win for them," said Votypka.
 
The Kings Park, NY native earned the win on four innings pitched with just four hits and one earned run. Moran led the offensive effort going 2-for-4 with three RBIs, two runs scored, and a walk. Williams and Frost were also solid at the plate each going 2-for-3.
 
"I'm so proud of the effort our guys put on for senior day," said Freeman. "It was our first time beating Cortland in I don't know how long on our field. Having it be senior day, having it be 10 seniors last game, and to beat the No. 6 team in the nation, it feels great. These guys deserved it and I've always said that we're on of the best teams in the conference and now we've proved it. We beat a team that won 20 games in a row and we're going to start our winning streak now."
 
The win moved the Hawks to 7-7 in SUNYAC while dropping the Red Dragons to 13-2. To see all the photos from the senior day ceremony, click here! 

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