Hofstra baseball lost the second game of their three-game series with Northeastern University, 5-1, on Saturday, April 6.
Vito Friscia led the Pride with three hits – including a solo home run – in the sixth inning, driving in the lone Hofstra run for the game. The solo shot was Friscia’s 21st career home run, putting him alone in eighth on Hofstra’s all-time home run list.
Northeastern’s Sean Mellen kept the Hofstra bats quiet, pitching seven innings giving up just four hits, while striking out 12 en route to his fourth win of the season.
The Pride had chances, with Frisca on second in the fourth and Austin Gauthier in scoring position the fifth, but were unable to drive them in.
Michael James got the start for Hofstra, allowing five runs on 10 hits in just five innings of work.
James ran into the most trouble in the bottom of the second, surrendering a leadoff double to Jeff Costello of the Huskies, who then stole third.
A walk to Jake Rosen and a base hit from Ryan Solomon brought in the first run for the Huskies.
Both runners would advance on a double steal as a pitch in the dirt prevented a throw from Friscia, setting up a Michael Geaslen sacrifice-fly.
Kyle Peterson followed with a RBI single for the third run of the inning.
James escaped more trouble, getting a fly out before the lefty caught Peterson drifting too far away from first base and picking him off to end the inning.
Northeastern scored another run in each of the next two innings, courtesy of a Jake Farrell double in the third and Geaslen’s RBI single in the fourth. Geaslen led the Huskies with three hits on the day.
Seamus Brazill came in the sixth inning and tossed three scoreless frames, limiting Northeastern to just three hits.
The Hofstra defense had a few highlights, with third baseman Daniel Page making a couple of long across-the-body throws in the second and fifth innings to save a pair of infield hits.
Friscia was great behind the plate to add to his big game, throwing out three runners attempting to steal, while also getting a stolen base of his own in the top of the fourth.
The loss brings Hofstra’s record to 5-20 and 1-4 in Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) play as Northeastern (15-15, 5-3 CAA) tied the weekend series with one win for each side. The rubber-match will be played Sunday, April 7, at 1 p.m.
Photo courtesy of Hofstra Athletics
