The Hofstra baseball team surged late, but it wasn’t enough as they lost to the Army West Point Black Knights, 9-5, on Wednesday, March 20. Mike Murray got the start on the mound for the Pride, taking the loss and allowing three earned runs. 

The Pride got off to a quick start, taking a 1-0 lead just three batters into the game. Anthony D’Onofrio got to second thanks to a throwing error and was driven home by Vito Friscia’s RBI double after advancing to third on an Austin Gauthier sacrifice fly for the first run of the game.

Murray was unable to keep the momentum going for the Pride. His outing was cut short after just three batters. He didn’t throw a strike until the third batter, walking the first in four pitches and hitting the second batter. Even though he got a strike against the third batter, he still allowed a walk, his second of the game. Seamus Brazill entered the game in relief, though he ran into some early struggles as well. After recording an out on a fielder’s choice, Brazill allowed four runs on three consecutive singles. Later in the inning, a throwing error from Friscia brought in another run, putting the Pride in a 5-1 hole after just one inning. 

After scoring in the first inning, the Pride’s offense was stifled by Black Knights starter Ray Bartoli, who pitched five innings and allowed only two hits. The Pride was unable to get a single baserunner from the second to fourth inning. They were able to put some pressure on Bartoli in the fifth, as they loaded the bases on a Daniel Page walk, D’Onofrio single and Gauthier reaching on an error. However, Bartoli got the last out of his day by striking out Friscia, leaving the Pride empty-handed.

After Brazill allowed two more runs in the third inning, he was replaced by Mark Faello. Faello was kept the Black Knights at bay in his short time on the mound, allowing two hits and two walks, but not allowing a run in 1 1/3 innings of work.

His replacement, Steven Boscia, struggled. Like the pitchers before him, Boscia struggled with control, walking one batter and striking out two in 1 2/3 innings of work. He also allowed a two-run double, pushing the Black Knights lead to 9-1. 

The Pride was able to get some momentum in the top of the ninth inning, scoring four runs on just one hit. Their deficit proved to be too much, as their rally came up short. 

The Pride returns to the field on Friday, March 22, when they open up a three-game series against St. John’s University in Queens, New York at 3 p.m.

Image courtesy of Hofstra Athletics