The Hofstra University baseball team suffered another close loss against the Fordham University Rams 10-8 on Wednesday, March 20. The Pride could not snap a three-game losing streak, despite a heroic ninth inning.
Pitching has been a constant issue for the Pride so far this season, with Hofstra giving up a staggering 9.4 runs per game. Joseph Curreri took the mound as the starting pitcher for the first time all season for the Pride. However, Curreri faced significant struggles during his three-inning stint. In the second inning, Fordham’s second baseman, Nico Boza, hammered a two-run homer, extending the Rams’ lead to 3. Curreri would later surrender another home run before his afternoon was over, leaving Hofstra in a 4-0 hole.
The game was blown wide open in the fifth inning as Hofstra’s pitching was picked apart by Fordham. Ryan McLaughlin, who entered the game in the fourth inning, had a nightmarish fifth inning. Despite only pitching 1.2 innings, McLaughlin gave up six runs on just three hits. Fordham’s shortstop, Chris Genaro, seized the opportunity during his at-bat against McLaughlin, delivering a triple to right-center field that drove in three runs for the Rams. Hofstra closed the fifth down 10-0.
This game was an incredibly lopsided performance for Hofstra, as the offense was a no-show for the first six innings. After falling down an almost insurmountable 10-run lead, the Pride clawed their way back into the ball game. Second baseman Michael Brown was the spark Hofstra needed to light the fire to a comeback. Brown doubled down the infield line, allowing senior Steve Harrington to be the first to put up a score for the Pride during the seventh.
After that first score in the seventh for the Pride, Hofstra rallied the entire rest of the game in hopes to pull off the comeback. The Pride closed out the seventh inning tacking on two more runs after Michael Florides singled to right field, ending the inning 10-3.
Alex McCoy maintained his dominance as the cleanup hitter. Across five at-bats, McCoy drove in four runs while also crossing home plate twice himself. The biggest moment for McCoy came in the eighth inning, crushing a crucial two-run homer to continue the rally for the Pride.
By the end of the game, Hofstra was firing on all cylinders. Despite the rocky start for the pitching staff, Matt Haggerty emerged as a stabilizing force, coming into the game to ensure the Pride didn’t give up any runs late in the closing innings. Haggerty’s performance in the final two innings was nothing short of stellar, allowing just two hits and keeping the Rams scoreless. Meanwhile, McCoy continued his impressive performance into the ninth. He crushed a double to left field, driving in three crucial runs. Adding to the momentum, Sean Lane drove in an additional run, capping off the Pride’s ninth inning.
Unfortunately for the Pride, the costly pitching in the initial five innings along with a sluggish offensive start proved insurmountable, despite a flawless finish to the game. After this loss, Hofstra dropped to 6-13 on the season.
The Pride looks to snap their losing streak on Friday, March 22, at 11:30 a.m. from University Field.
Photo courtesy of Hofstra Athletics/Matteo Bracco
