The Hofstra University baseball team failed to hold on to a 9-5 lead over the College of William & Mary on Friday, March 28, losing 10-9 during the second weekend of Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) play.
The Pride fell to 10-15 overall with a 2-2 in-conference record, while the Tribe improved to 8-17 with a 2-2 record against CAA opponents.
The Tribe put together a pair of late-inning rallies, scoring five runs over their final two innings at-bat. Derek Holmes started the comeback with a 2-RBI double in the bottom of the seventh before scoring on a fielder’s choice.
With two outs in the bottom of the eighth, Brayden Gregg gave up a base hit to Ben Parker, who sent Laskofski home for the tying run. Parker advanced to second base on a balk as Anthony Greco took advantage of the runner in scoring position and singled up the right side to drive Parker home for the game-winning run.
The Pride got on the board first in the top of the second inning. Sean Lane continued his hot streak with his fifth double of the year, scoring on a single from Mike Sweeney to give Hofstra an early 1-0 lead. Lane’s double extended his on-base streak to nine games, recording a hit in seven of them.
Jackson Bauer started for the Pride and pitched a 1-2-3 at the top of the first inning, striking out Derek Holmes to end the frame. His early-game pitching successes quickly turned to struggles as he gave up four runs in the second inning. Jamie Laskofski gave the Tribe the lead with a 2-RBI single and a pair of sacrifice flies from Jerry Barnes and Owen Wilson which brought home Christian Rush and Laskofski.
Hofstra scored five runs in the top of the fifth to erase the three-run deficit and looked in control to secure the win over William & Mary. With runners on first and third base, Dylan Palmer began the Pride’s scoring with a sacrifice fly to right field. Nick Biddle scored on a wild pitch, then Tyler Cox gave Hofstra the lead with a three-run home run to right center field to bring home Luke Masiuk and Michael Brown.
Dylan Palmer’s speed helped extend the lead for Hofstra in the sixth inning, laying down a bunt and reaching second base on a throwing error from Laskofski at third base, allowing Biddle to score.
Rush got the run back in the home-half of the sixth, launching his team-leading seventh home run of the season off Bauer.
Masiuk joined Cox as the only Hofstra batters to hit home runs off the Tribe in the series opener, hitting a solo shot to open the seventh inning. Masiuk ended the night going 1-3 against William & Mary, scoring two runs for the Pride. Michael Craig brought home Cox with a double for the final run of the game for the Pride.
The game ended with winning pitcher Carter Lovasz shutting down the Hofstra lineup over the final two innings. Lovasz struck out the final five batters he faced, striking out the side on 10 pitches in the ninth inning. Lovasz was one pitch away from an immaculate inning, giving up a ball to Masiuk on the first pitch of the inning.
Hofstra continued their series against the Tribe on Saturday, March 29 at Pulmeri Park in Williamsburg, Virgina.
