The Hofstra Pride baseball team set their bats ablaze in a 6-4 victory over the James Madison University Dukes on Friday, May 13, at University Field. The Pride advanced to 24-21 overall and 13-9 in conference play with two games left in this home series before the Colonial Athletic Association Championship.
James Madison kicked things off early, taking a two-run lead in the top of the second inning. Right fielder Carson Bell was walked and advanced to second base on a shot to centerfield from shortstop Mason Dunaway. Catcher Jason Schiavone laid down a sacrifice bunt that advanced both men to second and third base respectively. Third baseman Coleman Calabrese slammed a single down the rightfield line, scoring both Bell and Dunaway.
The Pride clawed back in the fourth inning with a team effort, Will Kennedy led the attack with a single to shortstop. Kennedy advanced to second on a single to rightfield from right fielder Brian Morrell and advanced to third off a fly out from catcher Kevin Bruggeman. Designated hitter Jake Liberatore flew out to centerfield to bring in Kennedy, shortening JMU’s lead to 2-1.
Hofstra struck again in the bottom of the sixth inning with a coordinated attack, scoring three runs. To kick off the inning, Kennedy doubled to leftfield and advanced to third base on a single from Morrell. Bruggeman singled through the left side, scoring Kennedy and advancing Morrell to second. Liberatore grounded to second, advancing Bruggeman to second and Morrell to third base. First baseman Zach Bailey grounded out to shortstop, bringing in Morrell and advancing Bruggeman to third. Second baseman Santino Rosso reached first on a fielding error by James Madison’s Nick Zona, scoring Bruggeman in the meantime. Third baseman Ryan Morash singled to centerfield, and advanced to second when Rosso came home, closing out the inning 5-2 in favor of the Pride.
Hofstra’s pitching helped keep the Dukes down, with starter Mark Faello on the mound for six innings, allowing only two runs and five hits. He struck out five of the 21 batters faced and threw 100 pitches on the way to his seventh win of the season. Pride first-year coach Frank Catalanotto praised Faello’s performance, as he has been on a slump in recent games.
“He’s been struggling a bit and going into the tournament we were thinking we’re gonna need him to get on track,” Catalanotto said. “We saw him pitch very well, and it looks like he’s on track. He wasn’t walking guys; he was throwing strikes, and hopefully that continues to carry over.”
Reliever Michael O’Hanlon, although shaky in the eighth inning, nabbed the save, his sixth of the season. He allowed two runs and one hit throughout his time on the mound, striking out six of the 14 batters he faced. Despite the eighth inning shenanigans, Catalanotto was happy with his performance.
“That kid’s got heart,” Catalanotto said. “There was some adversity there, some errors in the beginning, and things just didn’t go his way. But he wants the ball, and I’m happy whenever he has the ball in his hands. He gives us our best chance to finish the game.”
And finish the game they did, as the Pride furthered their lead in the seventh inning off of a single from Kennedy that scored Anthony D’Onofrio, extending the lead 6-2. The Dukes clapped back in the top of the eighth with two runs scored, but ultimately were shutout in the ninth inning, closing out the game 6-4 in favor of Hofstra.
The Pride look for their next win in the second game against James Madison on Saturday, May 14, at University Field. Opening pitch is at 1 p.m.
Photo Courtesy of Marc LevineHofstra Athletics
