It was the Brad Camarda show as he pitched a complete game shutout against the Stony Brook University Seahawks in a 4-0 win for the Hofstra Pride on Sunday, April 2. The victory secured the Pride’s first series win against a Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) team, and they now have a 5-7 conference record while sitting in eighth place.
Veteran pitcher Camarda was unquestionably dominant, throwing nine scoreless innings with just five hits allowed and five strikeouts. He threw 121 pitches which is a new career high, three up from when he threw 118 in last season’s CAA championship game.
“It’s always nice when we have the opportunity to win a series for me to hand the ball to this guy,” said Hofstra head coach Frank Catalanotto. “He always wants the ball, and to watch [Camarda] go out there and work like a surgeon today was impressive.”
Camarda held the Seawolves to just one baserunner through the first four innings and did not allow a hit until Brett Paulse hit a line drive just out of center fielder Dylan Palmer’s reach after he initially misjudged it.
“I’m just super happy to help the team win,” Camarda said. “These guys made a lot of plays behind me, so we’re playing good baseball and I’m just excited to keep rolling.”
Deep into the game, Hofstra fell into trouble but Camarda never wavered. After a leadoff double from the Seawolves and a one-out walk in the top of the eighth, Ryan Micheli hit a groundball to Michael Florides who flipped it to Santino Rosso, and he fired it to first for an inning-ending double play. Camarda, who was fired up, left the field shouting in triumph.
With some arms warming up in the bullpen, Camarda came back out in the ninth with the intention to finish what he started. This inning began the same way as the former: a leadoff double into center field. The next pitch was a pop fly caught in foul territory by first baseman Steve Harrington, and the next batter advanced the runner to third but gave Hofstra another out with a ground ball to Rosso. After a four-pitch walk, Catalanotto came out to talk to Camarda.
“Obviously I always want the ball in his hand,” Catalanotto said. “I went to check on him – not with the intention of taking him out; I wanted to give him a breather and ask him if he’s feeling okay. I knew he wouldn’t tell me if he wasn’t feeling okay – as obviously that’s always a concern when the pitch count gets up there – but I know Brad can handle it.”
And handle it he did, as the next batter flew out to right fielder Brian Morrell ending the game and giving Camarda one of the best starts of his career.
Not to be forgotten in this game was another solid outing from the freshman Palmer. Palmer went 3-3 with a walk and a two-out two-run single to give the Pride a 3-0 lead in the seventh.
“I was telling his dad he’s 18 years old, but he plays like he’s 30,” Catalanotto said. “With each game he is gaining confidence and my assistant coach Jimmy Gales told me ‘Did you see him that at-bat? He walked up with a lot of swagger, and he just looked so confident.’ And that’s what happens when you play every day and you have success.”
“He’s the life of the team,” Camarda said about Palmer. “When I’m pitching and he’s playing center, he is screaming his head off and it’s so awesome to hear him back there supporting me. I know he’s got my back and I got his back, so I’m super happy to see him succeed.”
The Pride will now travel to Piscataway, New Jersey, to challenge Rutgers University on Tuesday, April 4, before playing CAA opponent the College of Charleston in a three-game series on Friday, April 7, in South Carolina.
Photo by Rob Cuni/Hofstra Athletics
