The Hofstra Pride baseball team swept both games of a doubleheader over La Salle at Hank DeVincent Field in Philadelphia on Friday, Feb. 26. The Pride defeated the Explorers 7-0 in Game 1 and prevailed 4-2 in Game 2. After the two wins, Hofstra now holds a 3-1 record on the season.
A factor of the first win was a sensational performance by Hofstra pitcher Jack Jett. The graduate student from Reedville, Virginia pitched eight innings, striking out nine and giving up only one hit in the bottom of the sixth. This would be the only hit of the game for the Explorers.
With this finish, Jett has not allowed an earned run in the 13 1/3 innings that he has pitched this season. With these nine strikeouts, Jett now has 60 in his Hofstra career. He also picked up the win, which is his first of the season. The loss was credited to La Salle’s Colin Scanlon, who gave up five runs, two of them earned in 4 1/3 innings pitched.
The Pride scored their first run in the third inning, coming off a sacrifice fly from left fielder Brian Goulard that scored shortstop Austin Gauthier. They would then score four runs in the top of the fifth, which was helped by multiple fielding errors.
In Game 2, La Salle started off fast, with CF Jack Cucinotta hitting a leadoff home run off of Pride pitcher Brad Camarda in the bottom of the first, making it 1-0. They then added another run on an RBI double by first baseman Ryan Guckin, who scored in right fielder Elijah Dickerson. These would be the only two runs La Salle scored for both the game and the entirety of the doubleheader.
La Salle pitcher Frank Elissalt dominated Hofstra hitters, striking out 11 in 5 2/3 innings. However, he did give up two earned runs in the top of the sixth, which came from a two-run double by Goulard.
The Pride would take the lead in the top of the eighth inning, first on a double by second baseman Ryan Morash that scored in Rob Weissheier, giving the Pride a 3-2 lead. They added to the lead with the next at bat, a sac fly by designated hitter Alex Sica that scored in Goulard.
Mark Faello was credited with the win in Game 2 for the Pride, with John Mikolaicyk credited with the save. La Salle pitcher Jordan Morales was credited with the loss.
The Hofstra Pride heads back to Philadelphia on Sunday, March 1, to play another doubleheader with the Explorers. Game 1 will start at 11 a.m., with Game 2 beginning at 2 p.m.
Photo courtesy of Hofstra Athletics
