By Gio Annatelli and Kyle Kandetzki – Staff Writer and Sports Editor
GAME ONE by Gio Annatelli
Hofstra went into sunny California looking for an upset win over 11th-ranked UCLA, but came out heartbroken as the Bruins downed the Pride 14-2.
UCLA wasted no time in going ahead, as Ty Moore hit a sacrifice fly followed by a two-run home run from Chris Keck to give the Bruins a 3-0 lead coming out of the first inning.
Hofstra would not give up, as the Pride scored two runs in the third to only be down by one. Freshman Chris Weiss was able to pick up his first career hit, a double. After an error and walk, Brett Johnson was hit by a pitch in order to bring Weiss home. Eric Ferguson was able to supply the second and final run of the Pride with a groundout to third.
The Bruins would then have an offensive explosion, scoring one run in the fifth, two in the sixth, and four runs in the seventh and eighth innings. Darrell Miller Junior would be the standout during this explosion, as he had a three-run, bases clearing double in the seventh inning.
In his Hofstra debut, Pitcher Chris Bonk allowed six hits and gave up four runs, three which were earned, in the loss. He also struck out five and walked one in five innings on the mound. He was going up against Preseason All-American James Kaprielian, who gave up just four hits and two runs, while also striking out five in six innings of work.
Weiss was not the only freshman to get his first collegiate hit, as Steven Foster was able to get a single up the middle in the 9th. Foster went 1-for-4 with a run.
Six different players recorded hits for the Pride, as they got six hits while UCLA was able to breakout for 14 hits on the night. Brett Stephens headlined for the Bruins, going 4-for-5 with four runs.
The second game of the three-game series will get underway at 5 p.m. on Saturday the 14th. The Pride are 0-1 while the Bruins are 1-0.
GAME TWO by Kyle Kandetzki
Less than 24 hours removed from opening day, the Pride returned to Jackie Robinson Field for game two versus the Bruins, this time with even worse results.
UCLA had their biggest offensive barrage of the three-game set, destroying the Pride 18-1. The Bruins only allowed Hofstra to get five hits, while UCLA used three home runs to take the series victory going into the series’ final day.
The Pride was actually the first on the board on Valentine’s Day, as DH Ryan Donovan singled in the second inning to put Hofstra up 1-0, but their lead was short lived.
A comedy of errors across the board allowed three runs to score in the third for the Bruins. Pride starting pitcher Adam Heidenfelder hit a UCLA batter with the bases loaded to allow them on the board, and following a fielder’s choice RBI, an error at the first base bag put the Bruins up 3-1.
Bowie Matteson came in in relief for Hofstra in the fourth, and after a scoreless fourth, the flood gates opened in the fifth and sixth, with two sacrifice RBIs, a triple, and finally a solo home run, putting UCLA up 7-1 as Matteson exited.
The seventh and eighth innings saw 11 more runs go up on the board, four credited to Pride reliever Matt Weissheler off a Kevin Kramer grand slam, and seven went against Cody Olsen in a rough final defensive inning for Hofstra that included a 3-run homer, a two-RBI double, a sacrifice score, and a run on an error.
UCLA pitching was brilliant, with starter Grant Watson only surrendering four hits over seven innings, while David Berg closed out the game with a perfect top of the ninth to bring the game to its final of 18-1.
Donovan was the only member of the Pride with two hits on the day.
GAME THREE by Gio Annatelli
Hofstra was unable to avenge their two-straight losses to 11th-ranked UCLA, as the Pride fell to the Bruins 11-7. This win completed a three-game sweep for UCLA, as the Bruins are now 3-0 while the Pride fell to 0-3.
UCLA was again able to capitalize on scoring early in the first inning, as the Bruins popped off four runs and never looked back. After two walks, Ty Moore doubled to make the game 2-0 and then a two-run homerun from Chris Keck brought the score to 4-0.
The Bruins would then score one, two and three runs in back-to-back-to-back innings, in the fourth, fifth, and sixth. This would put UCLA up 10-0 before Hofstra sparked a fire from right under them.
The Pride was able to cut the deficit in half in just the seventh inning to make it a 10-5 game. RBI’s were driven in by Mat Annunziata, Jake Fallon, a Steven Foster walk, and two from a Dalton Rouleau single.
UCLA was able to muster up a run in the bottom of the eighth before the Pride attempted another comeback in the top of the ninth. Hofstra was able to load the bases with just one out, but only walked away with two runs scored from an Annunziata two-run single.
Redshirt Senior Nick Kozlowski walked away with the loss, allowing five runs on just five hits on four and one-third innings work. He also walked five and struck out three. UCLA pitcher Cody Poteet got his first win on the season, allowing just four runs on six hits in six innings of work. Poteet only allowed one walk while striking out five.
The standout on the day for the Pride was freshman Annunziata, who went 4-for-5 with two doubles and three RBI’s, and Graduate Student Dalton Rouleau, who collected three hits and two RBI’s.
The key stat in the loss for the Pride was the team leaving nine runners on base, even though out hitting the Bruins 13-10.
Hofstra will remain on the road as they head to warm Hawaii for a five-game series against the Rainbow Warriors starting on Wednesday. First pitch is set for 11:35 p.m.
