The Hofstra baseball team defeated the Merrimack College Warriors on Sunday, March 20, by a score of 14-5. With the win, the Pride improved its record to 8-6.

“I like the energy that the guys brought today,” said Hofstra head coach Frank Catalanotto. “It was nice to get some of these guys going, because I felt like some of them were really close to starting to hit and finally they broke out today.”

It was a long day for Merrimack, as Hofstra got off to a quick start in the first inning. Brian Morrell opened up the scoring with a single through the left side, sending home Santino Rosso for the 1-0 lead. Sean Flaherty later scored on fielder’s choice, pushing the Pride ahead 2-0.

In the second inning, Hofstra added on to its lead, picking up three more runs in the frame with an error by Merrimack, an RBI single by Morrell and a wild pitch, making the score 5-0. Merrimack struggled to get its offense going in the third inning, with another quick three at-bats.

Hofstra continued its momentum in the bottom of the third, adding four runs to go up 9-0, highlighted by a home run from Rosso to right field. In the fourth inning, the Pride notched its tenth run of the game off an Anthony D’Onofrio home run. The fifth inning saw Hofstra add to its lead again, with an RBI by Kevin Bruggeman that drove home Rosso and Pelcher.

In the sixth inning, the Warriors got on the scoreboard with a three-run homer by Michael Golankiewicz, cutting the deficit to 12-3. The Pride scored for the sixth straight inning, adding one run off  a balk to go up 13-3. Merrimack and Hofstra each added one more score in the seventh inning, making it 14-4 going into the eighth inning.

Merrimack tacked on to its total with a score off a wild pitch, now trailing 14-5. The Warriors looked for a miracle in the ninth inning, but the Pride took home the victory.

Hofstra’s Brad Camarda retired 15 of the first 16 batters, striking out five and only allowing three hits in six innings of action. Rosso and Morrell each led the team with three hits on five at-bats.

“Camarda did what he’s done his last few outings,” Catalanotto said. “Throwing strikes early, getting ahead in the count. And he’s not afraid. He’s out there and he comes right after you.”

The Pride will go back on the road to play St. John’s University on Tuesday, March 22, at Kaiser Stadium in Queens, New York.

Photo Courtesy of Hofstra Athletics