The Hofstra University baseball team staged another unsuccessful comeback, taking an 8-6 middle-game loss in their series against Northeastern University on Saturday, April 25, guaranteeing a series loss against the Huskies. Hofstra fell to 14-22 on the season with an 8-12 record in Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) play. Northeastern improved to 25-16 overall and 15-5 in CAA play, holding the top spot in the CAA North Division, while the Pride stayed in fourth place. 

Chris Bedford remained winless following his seventh start of the season. Bedford’s struggles to strand baserunners ultimately led him to take his fourth loss of the season. He gave  up six runs – four earned – on seven hits in over three innings pitched. Bedford’s struggles showed up early in his mound appearance against the Huskies. After striking out leadoff batter Tyler Harmony, Bedford had difficulty finding the strike zone, loading the bases on two walks and a hit batsman. All three baserunners were left on base when Bedford struck out and forced a flyout to the next two batters.

Bedford pitched more efficiently during the second inning, albeit hitting his second batter, Henry DiGiorgio. However, the Huskies took advantage of the battling sophomore in the third inning, getting on the board after Daniel Escalante committed an error at third base that sent Matt Brinker and AJ Aschettino home for a 2-0 score in favor of Northeastern.

After giving up back-to-back singles to open the fourth inning, Bedford gave up his third run of the day and his first earned run of the game. Following a mound visit, Harrison Feinberg hit through a gap in the infield, sending DiGiorgio home. Bedford’s final batter of the game was Brinker, who singled to third base in his third plate appearance.

Tanner Sanderoff came in relief but cost Bedford a pair of earned runs, both of which were forced in. The inning ended when DiGiorgio grounded out to first baseman Danny Corona.

Hofstra ended the shutout bid in the fifth inning when Michael Brown hit a sacrifice fly that scored George Holt for the Pride’s first run of the game. They narrowed Northeastern’s lead to four runs when Nick Gallello hit a two-out single that sent Corona home.

The Huskies reclaimed a five-run lead when Charlie Criscola hit a sacrifice fly in the sixth inning to set the score at 7-2. 

Hofstra’s offense came alive in the seventh inning, but their attempts to take back the lead were unsuccessful. With one out and Nick Biddle on second base, Brown sent the baserunner home with a single down the left field line. CJ Griggs joined Brown on the basepath before Corona launched a three-run home run on the first pitch of his at-bat, narrowing the Huskies’ lead to just one run.

Northeastern scored once more, in the bottom half of the inning, when Brinker sent home Ryan Gerety with a single. 

The series against the Huskies concluded on Sunday, April 26. First pitch was set for 1 p.m.