A late inning rally was not enough for the Hofstra Pride baseball to could not complete the sweep on the road in Maryland, as they were defeated in ten innings by the Towson University Tigers on Sunday, April 24, by a score of 5-4. Hofstra could not complete the sweep on the road in the state of Maryland.
This loss puts the Pride at an 18-16 record overall, with a Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) record of 9-6. Towson is now 10-29 overall, and this was its’ first win in CAA play in 2022. With the conclusion of this series, the Pride isare now 40-51 all-time against Towson.
The Pride had a four-game winning streak coming into this game, their longest of the season. Doug Marose got his second win of the season for Towson, while Michael O’Hanlon was given his second loss of the year.
Towson struck first in the bottom of the second inning. On an 0-2 count against Brad Camarda, Elijah Dickerson hit a home run to left field to give the Tigers a 1-0 lead. That lead didn’t last for long, aswhen Anthony D’Onofrio hit a single that up the middle that scored Ryan Morash. This extended D’Onofrio’s on-base streak to 22 straight games.
The Pride took their first lead of the game in the top of the fifth inning. Brian Morrell reached on a fielder’s choice that brought Morash in for the second time in the game.
Towson answered in the bottom of the fifth inning. After Danny Becerra hit a double to left field, designated hitter Nolan Young hit the 1-0 pitch high and deep to left center field for a home run, putting Towson into a 3-2 lead.
That 3-2 lead didn’t last long, as Kevin Bruggeman hit his fifth home run of the season in the top of the sixth. On the 2-1 pitch, Bruggeman smoked a ball to left field, tying the game at three runs apiece. Bruggeman’s, bringing his hitting streak is to now at seven straight games.
Towson took back the lead in the bottom of the seventh. After Burke Camper walked and was pinch run for by Ryan Terrents, who advanced on a groundout, James Moses hit a single through the right side, scoring Terrents and giving Towson a 4-3 lead.
The late inning heroics for Stevephen Harrington showed up once again in the top of the ninth. After a popout and a groundout, Brian Morrell was hit by a pitch. On the 1-2 pitch, Harrington slashed a double to right center field, with Morrell scoring on a throwing error by Moses, tying the game at four.
O’Hanlon, who came into the game in the bottom of the ninth inning, gave up the winning run, albeit unearned. After a throwing error by Santino Rosso, Dickerson hit a 1-0 pitch to right center field and ended up at third with a triple, winning the game for Towson.
Brad Camarda, who got a no decision, finished with seven strong innings. He struck out seven, while giving up six hits and only walking two.
Morash led the Pride with three hits in this contest, which is the third time this year he has had three hits in a game. Jake Liberatore extended his on-base streak to thirteen games after the previous game where he went 4-5.
The Pride continue their longest road trip of the season with a visit to New Jersey to play the Big Ten Conference’s Rutgers University. The game is on Tuesday, April 26, and begins at 3 p.m.
