The Hofstra University baseball team earned a spot in the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) tournament after taking down the Monmouth University Hawks 4-3 at University Field on Friday, May 17. While the Pride didn’t officially gain their spot in the tournament until after the game, it was the victory over Monmouth which made it possible for the Pride to punch their first ticket to the CAA tournament since their championship win in 2022.
After four scoreless innings, it was Monmouth who opened the scoring with a Joey Ventresca RBI double. However, the Hawks’ lead was short-lived, as in the bottom half of the frame, Penn Sealey scored on a wild pitch by Hawks’ starter Alec Couture, evening the score. One inning later, the Pride took their first lead of the game on a two RBI single by junior outfielder Luke Masiuk. Hofstra added another in the seventh when catcher Matt Pelcher drove in his 27th RBI of the season on a single.
While the Hawks were able to claw back into the game, scoring a pair of runs off a Harry Padden sac fly in the eighth and a Jay Bant bases-loaded walk in the ninth, Hofstra closer Mike McKenna was able to shut the door, picking up his 10th win of the season. The win evened Hofstra’s CAA record at 13-13 and helped Hofstra into the CAA tournament for the second time in three years.
The starter, and winning pitcher, for Hofstra was Carlos Martinez. Martinez’s win put his record to 6-4 on the year. In six innings, Martinez allowed only one run on four hits. Martinez also struck out six to only a single walk. Russell Hunter came in relief for Martinez, pitching the seventh and eighth innings, allowing only one run on two hits.
For Monmouth, the starter and losing pitcher was Couture, who dropped to 3-4 on the year. In six innings, Couture allowed three runs on six hits. Like Martinez, Couture also struck out six and walked one. He was then relieved by Dante Ciaramella who pitched the final two innings of the game.
The Pride wrapped up the regular season with a game against Monmouth on Saturday, May 18.
Photo courtesy of Hofstra Athletics/Alexis Friedman
