Hackettstown, NJ: Centenary baseball came up short in both games of a Saturday doubleheader against New Paltz, falling 9–7 in the opener before dropping the second 10–3 in Hackettstown.
In game one, Centenary jumped ahead in the fourth inning when Myles Castillo tripled and came around to score during a play at second base before Nick Friscia followed with an RBI single to give the Cyclones a 2–0 lead. New Paltz responded with a big sixth inning, scoring six runs to take control of the game. Joe Richetti delivered the key blow with a bases-clearing double that pushed the Hawks ahead 6–2. The Cyclones continued to battle throughout the later innings. Dominick Chiego and Friscia each delivered RBI hits, and Centenary mounted a rally in the eighth inning with three runs. Chiego drove in a run with a single, Mike DeSena was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, and Castillo reached on an error that brought home another run to cut the deficit to 9–7. However, the Cyclones could not complete the comeback in the ninth. Castillo led the offense with three hits, including a double and a triple, while Chiego and Friscia each added two hits and two RBI.
In the second game, New Paltz again used a big early inning to take control, scoring five runs in the third to build a 7–0 advantage. Centenary broke through in the sixth when Anthony DiGrande lifted a sacrifice fly to score Simeon Reed. The Cyclones added two more runs in the ninth as Benjamin Smith delivered a two-run single, but the rally was not enough to overcome the deficit in the 10–3 final. Reed, Dylan Pyle, and Smith each recorded hits in game 2, while Luke Casaliggi added a double.
Centenary will look to bounce back as the Cyclones continue their early-season schedule.
