The Hofstra Pride baseball team was no match for the Northeastern University Huskies on Friday, May 6, losing by a final score of 13-1 at University Field.
With the loss, Hofstra drops to 21-20 overall this season and 11-8 in Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) play. Northeastern moves to 24-21-1 overall and 8-8 in CAA competition.
“We ran into a pretty hot and pretty good pitcher,” said Hofstra head coach Frank Catalanotto. “[Eric Yost] was giving us some troubles, so you got to forget about this one and move on.”
Yost was nearly flawless on the mound for the Huskies, retiring his first 11 batters of the game, striking out four batters in 5.1 innings of work and allowing only two hits.
The Huskies jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead in the first inning with a home run by Corey DiLoreto. Hofstra went scoreless in the bottom of the inning, as well as the second inning, leaving the door open for Northeastern to extend its lead.
After a single by Justin Bosland in the first at-bat of the third inning, Jeff Costello doubled to left center, driving home Bosland for a 2-0 lead. After a walk, DiLoreto hit a double to center field, bringing home Costello for another run. Luke Beckstein grounded into a fielder’s choice that allowed Spenser Smith to touch home for the score and extend Northeastern’s lead 4-0.
Northeastern continued to stay hot in the fifth inning, with a groundout by JP Olson driving in DiLoreto for another run. Things continued to get worse for the Pride, with the sixth inning essentially putting the game to bed.
Bosland homered for a two-run score to lead 7-0. DiLoreto recorded another RBI double off the wall to center field bringing home Costello for another run scored. A second double, this time by Beckstein, brought DiLoreto in for a 9-0 lead. The Huskies continued to hit with ease, adding three more runs to close out the inning.
Hofstra had their best inning in the bottom of the sixth, led off with a double down the leftfield line by Ryan Morash. Morash advanced to third on a groundout by Michael Florides on the next at-bat. The Pride put another runner on base with a walk by Anthony D’Onofrio. Hofstra was able to get on the scoreboard with a groundout to second base by Will Kennedy, sending home Morash to make it a 12-1 ball game.
The Huskies added one more run in the seventh inning off a triple by Beckstein to go up 13-1. Both teams were scoreless in the eighth and ninth inning, as Northeastern took home the commanding double-digit win. The Pride were able to land two on base in the ninth inning.
“We can’t let up, we have to keep playing hard, keep winning games and trying to finish with the best seed we possibly can in this [CAA] tournament,” Catalanotto said following the game.
DiLoreto led the way for Northeastern with four hits, three runs scored and three RBIs. Costello recorded three hits with three runs scored as well.
For the Pride, Brian Morrell and Ryan Morash recorded two hits apiece, with Morash also adding one run scored. Nick Marrero and Sean Flaherty each had one hit in the defeat. Mark Faello got the start on the mound, pitching five innings and striking out four batters. Hofstra went deep into their bullpen with four pitchers coming in, including utility infielder and former Northeastern Huskie Zach Bailey, who pitched a scoreless ninth.
“I like the fact that Bailey went in there and threw strikes at the end of the game,” Catalanotto said. “That’s one of the things we’ve had a tough time with, is the bullpen, coming in and throwing strikes, and he came in and threw some strikes so maybe he’ll get some more time there on the mound.”
Hofstra hosts Northeastern in game two of the series on Saturday, May 7. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.
