The Hofstra University Pride baseball team beat the Manhattan College Jaspers under the lights 8-6 on Wednesday, April 26. The Pride improved their record to 19-22 overall, as they seek their second consecutive playoff appearance in just a couple of weeks.
Mike McKenna pitched 1.2 innings of relief and was credited with the win, and Brian Hart picked up his first save of the season. Manhattan’s Tyler Babel was given the loss as he surrendered five runs, four of which were hits and one of which was a walk, in 4.2 innings of work.
Steve Harrington opened the scoring for the Pride as he hit an RBI double to center field, scoring Jake Liberatore from second.
Soon after, Manhattan took the lead. Alfredo Delgago hit an RBI double down the left field line which scored Frankie Marinelli and advanced Logan Pfannenbecker to third. With two runners in scoring position and nobody out, Pfannenbecker scored on a wild pitch as Delgago advanced to third and the Jaspers took an early 2-1 lead. An RBI single from Jacob Radziewicz capped off a three-run first inning for Manhattan.
Hofstra cut the lead to one in Harrington’s next plate appearance when Liberatore was caught stealing, but that gave enough room for Dylan Palmer to make it home to make the score 3-2. Harrington was the facilitator yet again in the top of the fifth when he singled to left field, to score Liberatore. Following a pitching change, with Kevin Bruggeman and Harrington on the corners, Santino Rosso grooved a three-run home run to center field, giving Hofstra a 6-3 lead.
Delgado struck back in the bottom of the fifth with a solo home run on the second pitch he saw, narrowing up the score 6-4.
The next inning saw Pfannenbecker double to center field to bring in Marinelli.
Hofstra directly responded in the top of the seventh with a Bruggeman double to score Palmer.
The Jaspers trailed 7-5 heading into the bottom of the eighth. With two outs in the inning and the bases loaded, Daniel Perez worked a four-pitch walk to cut that deficit to 7-6.
The Pride added an insurance run in the ninth as Harrington stayed hot and doubled to right field, scoring Liberatore from third.
Harrington and Liberatore both recorded three-hit games at the dish. Harrington recorded three RBIs, all of which resulted in Liberatore’s three runs scored.
The Pride will start their three-game series against the University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW) on Friday, April 28, with first pitch set for 2 p.m., at University Field.
Photo courtesy of Rob Cuni
