By PJ Potter – ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR
The Hofstra baseball team dropped the series opener at Ohio State 12-1 in Columbus, Ohio.
Ronnie Dawson and Nick Sergakis exploded for seven total hits and eight combined runs batted in to lead the Buckeyes to their ninth win of the season.
Already leading 1-0 in the bottom of the first inning after a leadoff three-base error, which later scored on an infield single, Dawson lofted his fifth home run of the season to right field, a two run shot.
Sergakis tacked on his first RBI in the second inning, a double to the right center field gap, putting Ohio State up 5-0.
Then, in the third, Dawson broke the game open with a bases clearing triple to make it 8-0, all unearned runs due to an error by shortstop Brad Witkowski earlier in the inning.
The Buckeyes offense remained silent for the next two innings, until Nick Sergakis stepped into the box for Ohio State.
Sergakis extended his team’s lead to double digits after another hit going for extra bases, a two-run triple that rolled to the fence in right center field.
Dawson and Sergakis combined for six extra base hits. Dawson notched a home run and two triples while Sergakis doubled twice and picked up a three-bagger.
It was not until the eighth inning that Hofstra (5-12) managed to cross their first runner home. Freshman Kevin O’Connor singled Nick Bottari in to score on a single up the middle.
O’Connor finished 1-for-3 and his hitting .444 in 18 at-bats this season.
Hofstra tallied five hits total in the game, all of which were singles. David Leiderman, Brad Witkowski, Mat Annunziata and Teddy Cillis had the other base hits for the Pride.
Ohio State, on the other hand, posted 12 hits. Catcher Jalen Washington went 2-for-3 with three runs scored and Ridge Winland picked up a pinch-hit RBI double in one at-bat.
On the pitching side, Alec Eisenberg received the loss for Hofstra, dropping to 1-4 this season in a five inning outing. Eisenberg allowed eight runs (four earned) and struck out two.
Andrew Mundy was first to replace Eisenberg, surrendering three runs in two innings. Teddy Cillis pitched the last inning for Hofstra and let up one run.
For the Buckeyes, Tanner Tully pitched six innings of shutout ball, issuing no walks and two hits with three strikeouts.
Kyle Michalik gave up the lone run in two innings of work. He struck out one.
Connor Curlis closed it out for Ohio State, retiring the Pride in order.
The two teams face off tomorrow at 3:05 p.m. in the second game of the series.
