The Hofstra University baseball team imploded as the College of Charleston Cougars completed a come-from-behind win to advance to the semifinals in the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) Championships, 8-7 in walk-off fashion on Thursday, May 23.
“Tough Loss,” said Hofstra head coach Frank Catalanotto. “I thought Carlos [Martinez] pitched well, we ran into some trouble there in the sixth inning, giving up six runs and the obstruction call at third base was a rough one too. The guys fought and came ready to play against a good one-seed team. We put up many runs and had some good at-bats, so it’s disappointing that we lost.”
Tied at seven heading into the bottom of the ninth, Mike McKenna came in for the second straight game trying to bring the game to extras. First basemen Cole Mathis got on base with a two-out walk bringing Cole Singsank to the plate. Mathis stole second putting himself in scoring position and letting Singsank drop a single toward left field, winning the game 8-7.
With McKenna on the mound, Singsank’s hit was the only hit allowed in 1.2 innings pitched. Overall, the Hofstra pitching faltered in the later innings.
“He was starting to labor,” Catalanotto said. “He was getting a little bit tired: it was time to take him out of the game. He’s been sore lately anyway, but it was a big inning right there.”
The Pride got things going in the first couple of innings as they secured a 5-0 lead with Santino Rosso, Will Kennedy, Steve Harrington and Penn Sealey hitting singles all over the field.
In the seventh, Hofstra extended their lead over the Cougars with a Sealey double scoring two, now entering the back end of the game up 7-1. In the bottom half, however, Charleston roared back with six straight runs off a huge momentum-shifting three-run home run by leadoff hitter Avery Neaves, now tied at seven.
“It did take the wind out of our sails,” Catalanotto said. “The lefty at the end was good, the guys were saying he had good stuff, and he was making good pitches. McKenna pitched well but there was a hole, and it was unfortunate.”
All that momentum led to the ninth-inning rally to put the number one-seeded Cougars off in the winner’s bracket. The Pride faltered in the loser’s bracket causing them to play an elimination game against the College of William and Mary on Friday, May 24, at 11 a.m.
“Keep fighting,” Catalanotto said. “We’re swinging the bats well, another 13 hits today and we can play with any of these teams, so just show up ready to play and hopefully we can get a win.”
Photo courtesy of Hofstra Athletics/Joy Shaver
