By Alex Hyman, Staff Writer
The Pride traveled to Tallahassee,FL last weekend to take on the no. 5 Florida State Seminoles. It was a repeat of last season’s matchup though, as Hofstra suffered three straight losses to Florida State, getting outscored 37-6 in the process.
“We didn’t pitch to contact, [the pitchers] tried to do too much,” Hofstra head coach Patrick Anderson said.
In the first game of the weekend the Pride sent sophomore Jared Rogers to the mound. He lasted just three innings, giving up seven hits and nine runs.
It was 3-0 after the first inning when Hofstra junior outfielder T.J. Thomas belted his first homerun of the season. The Pride scored one more in the third after Thomas knocked in senior outfielder Scott A’Hara. It was all the offense the Pride could muster, as it would go scoreless for the last six innings.
“We put up quality at-bats, we hit the ball hard, but it just went right at them,” said Anderson.
The Pride jumped out to a great start in the second game, scoring three runs in the first. Junior outfielder Danny Poma led the inning off with a double with junior infielder Dylan Nasiatka knocking him in with a double of his own. Thomas followed with an RBI single, and then scored on freshman infielder Logan Davis’ groundout.
“There was life in the dugout, but Florida State was not rattled” Anderson said.
The Seminoles put up crooked numbers in each of the next two innings. Then in the fifth, they exploded for five runs taking a 9-3 lead.
Senior Rob Kumbatovic started the game for the Pride and lasted 4 1/3 innings, allowing six hits and 11 runs, nine of which were earned.
The Pride sent sophomore David D’Errico to the rubber for the final game of the series. D’Errico pitched 3 1/3 innings, gave up seven hits and three earned runs. The Pride bullpen pitched very well including scoreless innings from freshmen Bryan Verbitsky and Everett Keller.
The Pride offense however was only able to get two hits in the game, losing 7-0.
The Pride heads to Norfolk State this weekend. Conference play begins on March 15.
