A masterful seven-inning pitching performance from Carlos Martinez tied the three-game series for the Hofstra University baseball team in a 5-1 win against the Towson University Tigers on Saturday, March 30.
Martinez went the distance with a new career best in innings pitched, shutting down the Tigers’ lineup and allowing only one run off five hits and nine strikeouts. Those five hits were the only movement Towson had on the base paths. Martinez’s record now moves to 2-3 on the season.
Since his relief appearance last weekend against Northeastern University, Martinez has turned some heads with the way he has improved on the mound after a tough start to the year. His ERA stands at 9.73 and looks to decrease if he continues to pitch the way he has in recent outings.
Towson sent out starter Brett Seils against Hofstra, but he only survived 3.0 innings. Seils only had three strikeouts, allowing two runs on six hits. Seils received the loss, now standing at 0-4 on the season. Towson’s head coach Matt Tyner had to look to the bullpen early.
Besides the pitching, Hofstra’s offense got the bases turning in the first as Steve Harrington singled through to left field, putting a run on the board. Harrington is riding the hot hand after starting the season off on the wrong foot. He finished the day hitting 2-4 from the plate and has a .258 batting average.
Will Kennedy joined the fun in the third, clamping a single to left field and adding another run for Hofstra to make it 2-0. Kennedy continued to hit as he added insurance runs up the middle through center field in the fifth, moving it to a 4-2 game. Kennedy shined in the batter’s box, leading the team with three hits going 3-4 with three RBIs on the day.
In the ninth, Santino Rosso sealed the Pride’s last run with a single and an RBI extending the game, to 5-1. Rosso’s RBI hit was his only hit of the game.
Towson only came through in the bottom half of the fourth inning with left fielder Elijah Dickerson homering over the right field wall, the only run Martinez gave up.
Mike McKenna came out in relief for Martinez and got the job done, striking out three batters in 2.0 innings of work and allowing no hits. McKenna now has four saves on the season in his new role as closer.
With the series now tied at one apiece, Hofstra’s record stands at 10-16 overall and 2-3 in Coastal Athletic Association play. Towson falls back to 6-20 overall and 1-4 in the CAA.
Hofstra will play the rubber match against Towson on Sunday, March 31, seeking a series win with the first pitch set for 1 p.m.
Photo courtesy of Hofstra Athletics/Rob Cuni
