From NYU Athletics

The New York University baseball team opened up its 2018 season with a 4-2 victory over visiting SUNY New Paltz on Thursday, March 1, at MCU Park in Brooklyn.

Cameron Serapilio-Frank earned the opening day start for the Violets and didn't disappoint, tossing six shutout innings and striking out three.

The senior captain faced a bases loaded jam with one out in the top of the first inning, but was able to get a ground ball to third base that Jonathan Iaione turned into a 5-5-3 double play.

"It was huge to get out of the first inning without allowing them to score," said Serapilio-Frank. "It's a different game if we don't keep them off the board there, and Iaione was able to make a real nice play to get me out of that jam."

NYU opened the scoring in the bottom of the third when Jack Walter led off with a double and came around to score on a single from Colman Hendershot. 

Hendershot added another RBI in the bottom of the fifth when he singled to score Isaac Martinez. Iaione hit a sac fly later in the inning to make the score 3-0.

"WIth the way we are capable of pitching, two runs can be a lot," added Serapilio-Frank. "We have belief in ourselves as pitchers and when the offense gets hot it only helps our confidence."

Ford Ladd took over on the mound in the top of the seventh and picked up where Serapilio-Frank left off, throwing a pair of shutout innings out of the bullpen.  

NYU tacked on a fourth run in the bottom half of the seventh when Coltrane Tait singled home Walter.

New Paltz threatened in the ninth by loading the bases with nobody out, but Sal Cammisuli came in and was able to get out of the jam, allowing just two unearned runs. 

"That's a really good team that we were able to shut down" concluded Serapilio-Frank. "It was just a great way to set the tone for the season, we got big hits when we needed to and made big pitches when we needed to."

HIGHLIGHTS:

- Walter and Hendershot led the squad with three hits apiece.

- Ladd struck out a pair in his two innings of work.

- Hendershot stole a pair of bases, while Walter stole one.