On Friday morning, the Pride continued its trip down in Louisiana against Southern University. After a very slow start to the season with a struggling offense, Hofstra came away with its second straight win with a final score of 4-2 in Game 2 of the Mardi Gras Invitational.
The starting pitchers were outstanding in this one – a duel that had both teams shut out heading into the eighth inning.
Jorge Marrero (1-0) for the Pride tossed seven scoreless innings, striking out six and giving up just five hits while recording the win. His counterpart, Daniel Franklin (0-2), threw for 7.1 innings, giving up three unearned runs and was responsible for the loss.
As a result of both Marrero and Franklin pitching effectively, all of the action took place in the eighth inning – both teams scored its only runs of the game in this frame.
For Hofstra, Sean Rausch reached on an error by second baseman Robinson Mateo. Mikey Riesner followed up with a bunt single and then Chris Hardardt laid down a sacrifice bunt advancing Rausch and Riesner to second and third.
After Vito Friscia drew a pinch-hit walk, Rausch scored on a wild pitch. Brad Witkowski walked after Steven Foster went down swinging, which loaded the bases for Nick Bottari with two down. Bottari promptly hit a bases clearing double to center field, giving the Pride a four-run lead.
In the bottom half of the eighth, Chris Weiss allowed two runners to reach base via walks for Southern University. Michael James then came out of the bullpen and gave up a two-run double to John Pope. James was able to escape the inning and ended up pitching the ninth, striking out the side and recording his first save of the season.
Nick Bottari has been off to a hot start this season as he’s batting .350 with a .600 slugging percentage and has driven in twelve runs through twenty at-bats. He went 2-for-3 with three RBI against Southern.
The Pride will look to extend its win streak to three games Saturday morning as Hofstra puts an end to its trip in Louisiana. They take on Grambling State University at 11 a.m. (CST)
