NEW PALTZ, N.Y. (April 3, 2019)  – Senior Donny Gherardi hit a two-run single to tie the game in the top of the ninth, but the Stevens Institute of Technology baseball team fell in non-conference action to New Paltz 10-9 Wednesday afternoon at Loren Campbell Field. 

Junior Michael Frissora led the Ducks with five strikeouts over 5.2 innings pitched. Gherardi was ultimately handed the loss as the winning run scored while he was on the mound. Ryan Votypka led all pitchers as he struck out eight batters in four innings for the Hawks. 

Freshman Sutton Dole began the scoring with his RBI single in the first inning. New Paltz immediately answered in the bottom of the inning when Danny Campbell doubled to left center to bring in the tying run. Julian Franc then reached first following an error by the left fielder, which allowed both Dean Stazler and Matthew McGee to score and give the Hawks a 3-1 lead. 

In the top of the second, junior A.J. Falconite and freshman Tom James each registered RBI singles to tie up the game. However, Camilo Burgos-Bye homered in New Paltz's first at bat of the inning before Campbell sent another ball over the fence to put the Hawks back in the lead. 

The Ducks fought back to take the lead once more in the third inning when freshman Ryan Finegan registered his first collegiate RBI with a double that sent in both Gherardi and sophomore Thomas Paulich. Senior Matt Branco scored Stevens' sixth run of the day prior to Finegan being picked off at first. 

New Paltz tied the game once again in the fifth with an RBI double by Justin Ganca before scoring three runs in the seventh to put themselves ahead as McGee, Ganca and Stazler all scored on separate wild pitches. 

In the top of the ninth, graduate student Tommy Baronner walked before advancing to second on a groundout by Finegan. Falconite then singled to right field to bring in the Solana Beach, California native and cut the Ducks' deficit to two. 

Freshman Brett Mendez pinch ran for junior Patrick Rood after he was hit by a pitch. Dole then worked a walk to load the bases with just one out. Gherardi followed with his two-run single to tie the game at nine and send it to the bottom of the inning. 

Ryan Frost reached first on a single in the Hawks' first at bat of the inning. A sac-bunt from Burgos-Bye sent Frost to second before Michael Boccarossa hit a walk-off double to end the game and end New Patlz's six-game losing streak. 

"Credit to our squad for battling back to score three runs to tie it in the 9th," expressed head coach Kristaps Aldins. "It looked for a moment that we would pull off what would have been another great comeback. Unfortunately, our miscues in the field throughout this contest proved to be the difference today. Michael Frissora pitched a very good game in relief to put us in position to win. And it was great to see Donny throwing strikes on the mound showing he is a "plus" option for us out of the bullpen."

Branco led the Ducks on the defensive end with eight putouts, while Dole added six and Gherardi tallied five. 

Up Next

• The Ducks travel to Utica for a conference doubleheader on Saturday, April 6 at 12 P.M. and 2:30 P.M. 

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