The Hofstra University men’s baseball team won the opener of their three-game series over the Manhattan University Jaspers with a score of 9-1 from University Field on Friday, March 15. The win gives the Pride their second straight win, improving their record to 6-9 overall on the season. Manhattan fell to 4-12 on the year with the loss.
The Hofstra pitching staff has only allowed one run for the second consecutive game as Michael O’Hanlon tossed a gem in eight and a third innings, giving up just the one earned run on six hits and one walk while striking out seven.
Friday was O’Hanlon’s longest outing of his career, as he continues to improve in his new role as the Pride’s ace of the staff.
“He just shut them down; he was nasty all day long,” said Hofstra head coach Frank Catalanotto. “He’s done a great job getting used to starting. Every outing he’s had he’s gotten better and stronger.”
Manhattan trotted out Justin Solimine for the start giving the Jaspers five innings of work, allowing five earned runs, seven hits, four walks and striking out five Hofstra batters.
The Hofstra offense came out with another strong outing with nine runs on nine hits, led by Santino Rosso who had three hits of his own, driving in two runs on the day. Dylan Palmer contributed two-thirds of the Pride’s runs, crossing home three times and plating three of his teammates as well.
Palmer’s been outstanding for the Pride in the leadoff position, reaching base safely in all 15 of Hofstra’s games this season.
“I felt like that was Hofstra baseball. Got some big hits when we needed to. Santino Rosso hit the ball great, so did [Alex] McCoy” Catalanotto said. “It’s a potent 1-2-3 punch. Those first three guys really ignite us.
The Pride struck early, taking advantage of a dropped pop fly to get Palmer to second base to lead off the home half of the first frame. Two batters later, McCoy singled up the middle to drive in his 17th run of the year.
O’Hanlon’s only hiccup came in the top of the fourth inning, allowing a leadoff single before a fielder’s choice and sacrifice ground out set up Manhattan’s Vincent Davis to bring in the tying run.
Hofstra was quick to respond in the bottom half of the frame, after a wild pitch allowed two runners to reach scoring position, McCoy came through with a two-RBI single giving the Pride a two-run cushion.
McCoy’s hit would ultimately be the difference in the game, but not before Rosso followed up with a double to bring McCoy home and extend the Pride’s lead to 4-1.
The Pride broke open the game with a five-run bottom of the sixth inning.
After an opening walk to Will Kennedy, back-to-back errors for the Jaspers allowed a run to score and set up two more for Rosso with his second RBI double to put Hofstra up 8-1. Rosso’s eighth multi-hit game this year.
O’Hanlon, now with eight runs to work with, settled in, retiring seven of his final nine batters faced. Joseph Curreri relieved O’Hanlon in the ninth, giving up one hit but struck out two batters to close the door on the Jaspers.
With only having to use one other pitcher, the Hofstra bullpen looks to build off the stellar performance as they move in the right direction, only allowing more than one run as a unit in three of the last four games.
“We have no excuses, that bullpen is really fresh. If we do have to go to the bullpen, we’re confident those guys will perform,” Catalanotto said.
The Pride wraps up their series with Manhattan over the weekend, with the second game on Saturday, March 16, at 1 p.m. from University Field.
Photo courtesy of Hofstra Athletics/Matteo Bracco
