By John Napolitano – STAFF WRITER
Hofstra baseball’s pitching woes continue while costly seventh inning errors cemented a dominant University of Delaware Fightin’ Blue Hens victory, 13-3, in game two of their three game set on Friday.
With the game not yet out of hand, incoming Hofstra reliever Alec Eisenberg opened the floodgates when his decision to halt the lead runner at third base resulted in a throwing error, plating two unearned runs for Delaware in the process. The Blue Hens tacked on four more runs in the seventh, putting the game well out of reach for the Pride.
Delaware came out of the starting block hot. The Fightin’ Blue Hens scored two runs in the top of the first when centerfielder Kevin Mohollen led off with a base knock to right field. After a Kyle Baker single and Teddy Cillis fielding error in right, Delaware kept it rolling into the second inning.
After Delaware shortstop Jeremy Ake legged out an infield single at the start of the second, Adam Rapp touched them all on a two-run home run over the right field fence. The third inning saw Diaz Nardo and Patten score off the bat of Ake double, bringing the Blue Hens’ lead to 6-1.
Hofstra sophomore Mat Annunziata banged the drum with an opposite field solo home run in the bottom of the first to put the Pride on the board. He was joined by redshirt-freshman Max Dolente who went deep pinch-hitting for Ryan Karl. Centerfielder Steven Foster accounted for the third and final Hofstra run, scoring off Vito Friscia sac-fly.
Senior Bowie Matteson recorded the loss for Hofstra, allowing 13 hits, six runs, and no walks while striking out four in five innings of work. Matteson’s sub-two ERA increased to 3.50 as the right-hander slipped to 2-3 on the season.
The Pride fall to 8-23 overall and 1-6 in conference play.
Hofstra wraps up their series with Delaware on Sunday, as the look to secure their first win at University Field on the 2016 campaign. Freshman John Rooney is slated to take the bump for the Pride. He will work opposite Brandon Walter of Delaware. First pitch is at 1 o’clock.
