By Danny Powell

Senior Andy Campana, who went 5 for 6 with four runs batted in, and freshman third baseman Matt Prokopowicz, who was 3 for 6 with two home runs, four runs scored, and four RBI, led the Pride to a big extra inning victory over Long Island foe Stony Brook on Tuesday. The game was tight throughout until the Pride’s line-up put up an astounding seven runs in the seventh inning to put away the Seawolves.

Stony Brook took a 5-1 lead after the first inning but the Pride clawed back within two by scoring two runs in the third, including a RBI double by freshman Dion Pouncil. The Seawolves answered right back with two runs in the fourth though, stretching the lead to 7-3. A run-scoring double from Campana and Prokopowicz’s first home run of the day pulled the Hofstra within one after the fifth inning.

The Pride took the lead briefly in the top of the sixth as Campana came through again, this time with an RBI single. It wouldn’t stay that way for long, however, as a wild pitch from senior pitcher Will DeVito allowed Stony Brook to pull even at eight in the bottom of the inning.

It looked as if the Pride had taken the lead for good when Prokopowicz hit a big two-run home run in the top of the eighth to give Hofstra a two run cushion. The Seawolves were resilient though, and answered back with two runs of their own in the bottom of the ninth.

Hofstra came back sharply, exploding with a seven-run rally in the top of the tenth to salt away the game. Campana was particularly big in the inning, singling twice and knocking in two runs while scoring one of his own. Senior reliever Jeff Denlea shut down Stony Brook in the bottom half to earn his second victory on the season with two innings of one-hit shut out baseball.

The win improved the Pride’s record to 15-27 on the season and evened the season series with the Seawolves at one. Hofstra will look to take some momentum from the road win as they host VCU in a big conference showdown this weekend.