The SUNY Oneonta baseball team captured a pair of victories today against New Paltz improving to 5-20 overall and 3-7 in the SUNYAC.  The losses dropped New Paltz to 15-11-2 overall and 7-7 in the SUNYAC.  The Red Dragons battled back in the first game to win 5-4 in extra innings, and in game two, pitching was the key for Oneonta as Nicholas Ponesse (Newburgh/Valley Central) (1-3) and Erik Johansen (Rosendale/Rondout) (1-0, 2 saves) combined to shutout the Hawks 1-0.

The Red Dragons needed two extra innings to claim victory in game 1, as senior Matt Mastroianni (Somers/North Salem) hit a blast to the left center wall, which scored classmate Joe Franke (Livingston Manor/Liberty Central) from first base uncontested for the walk off winner.

Sophomore pitcher Thomas Bond (Somers/North Salem) did not figure in the decision, but pitched 7.0 innings, striking out four batters and allowing three earned runs. Sophomore Christopher DiDomizio (Cortlandt Manor/Lakeland ) would bridge the 8th-9th-10th innings allowing no hits before Johansen earned his first win of the season in the 11^th.  Donald Geloso (Staten Island/Monsignor Farrell), Dylan Stamile (Long Beach, NY/Bowie (Austin, TX)), Sage Cheren (Bronx, NY/Riverdale Kingsbridge Academy) and Franke each had two hits apiece in the game.

In the second game, Ponesse would go 4.0 innings allowing four hits and striking out one to collect his first win of the season. Johansen would shut down the Hawks only allowing one hit over 3.0 innings of relief to collect his second save of the season.

The Red Dragons will finish the last game of the three game series tomorrow with a 9 inning game at Damaschke Field beginning at noon.