A masterful pitching performance from Michael O’Hanlon could not push the Hofstra University baseball team over the University of Delaware Fightin’ Blue Hens as a late-inning rally sealed the 8-4 win for the away team.
“It was disappointing since we got such a good start out of Michael O’Hanlon,” said Hofstra head coach Frank Cattalanotto. “He pitched a great game, and we collapsed in the eighth inning so I felt we let one get away.”
O’Hanlon has been the premiere starter for the Pride this season with a 4.65 ERA so far this year. His start against Delaware demonstrated his consistently gritty attitude on the mound for the Pride.
In just seven innings pitched, O’Hanlon had 11 strikeouts, allowing one run off three hits with only 90 pitches in this game.
“He was outstanding,” Catalanotto said. “He was attacking the zone, throwing all of his pitches for strikes. I hate having to take him out in a tough situation, but it’s a one-run game. I chose [Mike] McKenna to come out, and he has had an outstanding year so far, but he struggled a bit today and the move backfired on me.”
Dylan Palmer put a run on the board with an RBI single in the second inning, assisting O’Hanlon with a comfortable 1-0 lead. O’Hanlon pushed through and made it into the eighth where Catalanotto made the move to put McKenna in the game. That decision decided the game for the Fightin’ Blue Hens.
Delaware blew the game open in the eighth with three doubles contributed by Aiden Stewart, Andrew Amato and Chris Dengler, putting the Blue Hens on the board with six runs for a 6-1 lead.
The Blue Hens added more fuel to the fire with two runs scored across two singles from Aaron Graeber and Joey Loynd, now leading 8-3.
Alex McCoy tried to get a rally going in the bottom half with a solo shot, making it an 8-4 game. However, the Blue Hens’ closer Owen Margolis closed out the game and snatched the first game of the series against the Pride.
Relief pitcher Tyler August got the win for the Blue Hens for his contributions in this game. August pitched five innings, allowing three hits and no runs with three strikeouts. His outing stabilized the Delaware lead to try and get things going with their late-inning rally.
Besides the beginning and end of the game, the Hofstra offense could not get men in scoring position despite making 11 hits.
“Guys were ready for the fastball, we were taking some good swings and hitting the ball hard, but we could not find any holes,” Catalanotto said. “Delaware’s defense was outstanding as well.”
Hofstra now stands at a 10-18 overall record and a Coastal Athletic Association record of 2-5. Hofstra has yet to win a CAA series this season.
“I told the team we have two more games,” Catalanotto said. “We can still win this series, we have to come out tomorrow and Sunday and play hard. We have to play the game right and fundamentally sound, and hopefully, we can get the next two.”
Photo courtesy of Hofstra Athletics/Alexis Friedman
