By David Gibb

While the state of North Carolina is perhaps best known for basketball in the college sports world, it was the Hofstra Baseball Team who journeyed to Raleigh this past weekend to take on the Wolfpack of NC State in a double-header. Unfortunately, little Southern hospitality was extended to the Pride, as NC State pummeled Hofstra to the tune of a 26-6 combined score.

The two-game set started off auspiciously for the Pride, as sophomore left fielder Scott A’Hara hit a ball to Wolfpack shortstop Kyle Wilson, who promptly threw the ball away, giving Hofstra a runner on second with nobody out. Senior Adam Perlo followed with a single, moving A’Hara to third, and then advanced into scoring position himself on a wild pitch by NC State starter Jimmy Gillheeney.

Leadoff man Mark Stuckless, hitting an even .400 on the year, drove in A’Hara with a single to shortstop, and moments later Perlo crossed the plate, forced home by walks to Matt Prokopowicz and senior Chris Mentrasti. Unfortunately for the Pride, however, the mini-rally did little to rattle Gillheeney, who wound up pitching 7 strong innings, allowing only two earned runs and striking out 8. The 2-0 score would also come to represent the Pride’s only lead of the double-header, as NC State pulled even in the bottom of the fourth inning and never looked back, eventually winning the game 11-4.

Dallas and Drew Poulk, the Wolfpack second baseman and outfielder respectively, each had three hits and two RBI in the game, and Kyle Wilson, the shortstop whose error ignited Hofstra’s early rally, redeemed himself with two hits and three RBI.

In the second game of the day, a quartet of NC State pitchers combined to stifle Hofstra’s offense while the Wolfpack feasted upon the offerings of four Pride pitchers. Bobby Neelon started the game for the Pride, but lasted only three innings, yielding 8 hits and 7 runs on 75 pitches. NC State’s Alex Sogard, on the other hand, went four innings, giving up only one hit and striking out 6. After Sogard’s exit, Kyle Rutter, Vance Willams, and Mike Russo combined to allow only 4 hits to the Pride in the game’s final five innings.

Hofstra avoided a shutout loss in the late innings, touching up both Willams and Russo for a run apiece. Mark Stuckless managed to stay hot despite the loss, going 2-4 before being lifted for a pinch runner who scored one of the Pride’s only two runs. Matt Prokopowicz also had two hits, and Chris Mentrasti tallied a hit. Unfortunately, however, these three players accounted for all Hofstra’s hits in the game.

Coming off an 0-6 start, the Pride will have a bit of a respite before resuming their play Wednesday, March 11 against the Broncs of Rider University. The game will be the Pride’s home opener, and first pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m.