On Saturday, April 18, the Hofstra University baseball team lost fell 12-0 to the UNC-Wilmington in seven innings.
With the loss, the Pride fell to 12-20 on the year and 7-10 against Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) schools. The Seahawks improved to 21-17 overall and 10-7 in conference play.
Hofstra recorded four hits in the shutout, coming from batters who usually do not receive much time in the spotlight for the team. Tyler Cox, Danny Corona, Michael Craig and Sam Leonard each recorded a base hit on the day. Corona was the only Hofstra batter to record an extra-base hit, doubling with one out in the top of the second.
Chris Bedford took the loss for the game. In 2.2 innings pitched, Bedford gave up two runs – one of which was earned – on two hits and struck out two batters despite walking five of his 15 batters faced. He remains winless on the season.
After walking the first two batters in UNCW’s lineup, Bedford loaded the bases by giving up a no-out single to Mason Hughes. Will Tyrell then hit into a groundout that sent JP Pennella home for the Seahawks’ first run of the game. The next inning, Bedford once again walked the leadoff runner and followed up by pitching into a catcher’s interference to put runners on first and second base. Just like with their first run, UNCW got their second run on another sacrifice hit. This time, Howie Rickett placed a sacrifice bunt to send Brady Thompson home.
Goose eggs graced the next two innings of the box score, but the Seahawks extended their lead to four runs in the fifth inning. Joseph Curreri walked the leadoff batter Mason Hughes, and Will Tyrell reached first base on an error from shortstop Michael Brown. Then, Curreri hit batter Kevin Jones to load the bases. Thompson flew out to left fielder Craig to score Hughes. John Newton then sent Tyrell home on a single to right field.
In the next inning, Tyrell plated Trevor Lucas on a fielder’s choice play that prevented the Pride from recording an out. Jones then grounded out to Brown to send Hughes home – the Seahawks’ fourth run scored on a sacrifice hit.
A pair of three-run home runs given up by Michael D’Ambrosio secured a UNCW victory in the bottom of the seventh. To record an out in the inning, D’Ambrosio gave up a 361-foot monster shot to Jones, who sent Jake Bechtel and Tyrell home. After walking Thompson and getting his first out of the inning on a strikeout, D’Ambrosio hit Rickett and then faced pinch hitter Danny O’Brien, who launched a 378-foot shot to right field to bring home another trio of runs. Overall, D’Ambrosio only recorded one out in the inning.
For the seventh Sunday this season, the Pride looked for a rubber-game victory as they faced the Seahawks for a series finale on Sunday, April 19. First pitch was set for 1 p.m. at Brooks Field.
