The Hofstra University men’s baseball team secured their first win of the season with a 9-7 victory over the Liberty University Flames with a clutch go-ahead two-run homerun from Santino Rosso in the eighth inning.
Heading into the eighth inning with a 7-7 tie, Dylan Palmer took the walk down to first setting up Rosso’s two-run blast over the center field wall giving Hofstra the lead, 9-7.
Although that was Rosso’s only contribution in the game going 1-5, Palmer has continued his dominance from the top of the lineup. He batted 2-3 with two walks on the day.
Michael O’Hanlon got the ball for his second start of the season. O’Hanlon stretched his pitching into 5.1 innings but gave up five runs off seven hits with seven strikeouts.
With a 2-0 lead after the first from a Will Kennedy fielder’s choice and a Matt Pelcher single into center field, O’Hanlon once again started the game off with a lead but gave a run right back with a lead-off solo home run by Kane Kepley for a 2-1 score. O’Hanlon then settled in comfortably until the fourth.
In the top of the third, Hofstra had some momentum with a Palmer single. Pelcher grounded into a fielder’s choice as the Pride extended the lead to 3-1. The same play took place in the fourth from Rosso extending their lead to 4-1. With the offense continuing to brew for Hofstra in the fourth, Alex McCoy came to the plate with two men on and crushed a three-run home run into the right field stands, giving the Pride some insurance for a 7-1 score.
With a comfortable lead in the bottom of the fourth, fatigue started to set in for O’Hanlon and the Flames jumped at the opportunity. With one man on, senior Three Hillier sent a triple down the right-field line, adding a run on the board. Braydon Horton then unleashed a three-run homerun to close Liberty’s lead down to two.
After a sacrifice fly in the fifth from Noah Rabon cut the lead to one, 7-6, Liberty continued in the sixth with Danny Kelleher now in for O’Hanlon. Shortstop Tanner Marsh clapped a double into left field, coming back and tying the game at seven. Hofstra’s pitching stepped up and stopped any further momentum to give the Pride a chance to score.
Rosso took that chance and hit his two-run home run in the eighth, giving the team the lead heading into the final inning. Mike McKenna came in to try and secure his first save of the season, which he did, also securing the first win for Hofstra this season.
The Pride’s record now stands at 1-3 while Liberty now stands at 3-2.
The Flames sent out Cole Hertzler, as he gave up two runs off of three hits, only surviving one inning. Dylan Mathiesen gave up two runs off of one hit and added the loss to his name.
Hofstra will try and secure their second win with Carlos Martinezon the bump getting his second start of the season with first pitch at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Feb 24.
Photo courtesy of Hofstra Athletics/Keith Lucas
