An 11-run fourth inning propelled the Hofstra University baseball team to a 13-2 mercy-rule victory over Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) North Division leader, Northeastern University, on Sunday, April 26.

With the win, Hofstra evened their season series against Northeastern, improving their record to 19-22 overall and 9-12 in CAA play. The Huskies are 25-17 on the season and 15-6 in conference play. The Pride remain in fourth place in the CAA North Division standings.

Nick Reese pitched his career’s first complete game, only allowing two runs – one earned – on three hits in seven innings pitched. Reese gave up one run in each of the first two innings but successfully filled the rest of Northeastern’s box score with zeroes.

Northeastern’s Tyler Harmony opened the bottom of the first with a leadoff single. Harrison Feinberg followed with a no-out fielder’s choice error attributed to third baseman Gabriel Melara, and Ryan Gerety joined them on the basepath with a walk. Reese gave up his second fielder’s choice ball to the next batter in the Huskies’ lineup, Matt Brinker, who sent Harmony home for an unearned run. 

An unorthodox series of events led the Huskies to score their next run in the bottom of the second. Leadoff man Carmelo Musacchia reached first base on a single up the middle, then advanced two bases on consecutive balls in play. Henry DiGiorgio sent Musacchia in to score Northeastern’s second run. DiGiorgio tried to stretch the knock to a double but was ruled out. 

The Pride’s bats woke up ready to attack the Huskies’ pitching. Hofstra worked 15 plate appearances while facing a trio of Northeastern pitchers in the fourth inning. Northeastern starter Ryan Griffin hit Danny Corona and Melara by pitch to open the inning and to load the bases after giving up a first-pitch single to Nick Gallello. After a mound visit, Tyler Cox scored the Pride’s first run after hitting a sacrifice fly to left fielder Feinberg. Nick Biddle walked to load up the bases for a second time in the inning. JJ DeVito then sent Melara home on an error by shortstop DiGiorgio.

The last two batters whom Griffin faced each drove in a run. George Holt lined out to second baseman Charlie Criscola, whose subsequent error gave Gallello a pass to come home. Right after, Michael Brown hit a ground-rule double that sent Biddle home.

Andrew Basel came into the game but got injured before recording an out. Basel reloaded the bases, walking CJ Griggs and Corona then forcing in a run courtesy of Corona. Basel ultimately gave up an RBI single to Melara, a two-run double to Gallello and an RBI single to Cox.

Matthew Sapienza, the third reliever of the inning for the Huskies, gave up a single to Biddle, driving Cox in for the Pride’s last score of the inning. The Pride accumulated 11 runs across the frame.

Hofstra scored twice more in the game. Corona doubled in the top of the fifth to send Griggs home. Then, Melara singled to send Brown home from second base.

Eight members of the Pride’s starting lineup recorded a hit, seven drove in at least one run and eight members scored a run. Every Hofstra batsman made it on the basepath. Brown, Gallello and Melara led the Pride’s offense, each recording two base hits on the day.

Hofstra takes a quick break from CAA play to host St. John’s University on Tuesday, April 28. First pitch is set for 3 p.m. at University Field.