The Hofstra University baseball team snapped their four-game losing streak with a 4-3 win over Columbia University on Wednesday, April 2.
The Pride rode a four-run fifth inning for the come-from-behind victory after falling behind 3-0 in the fourth inning. CJ Griggs had the go-ahead hit with a two-RBI double down the left-field line to score Tyler Castrataro and Luke Masiuk.
Dylan Palmer was one of four Hofstra players to have a multi-hit game, extending his hitting streak to 12 consecutive games. He was batting .438 during that stretch, which dates back to March 15.
Brian Hart earned his first win of the season, pitching two scoreless innings of relief as the Pride’s bullpen was lights out all afternoon.
Hofstra relief pitchers had combined for 18 earned runs during the Pride’s four-game skid, giving up leads in the eighth inning or later in each of the three games against the College of William & Mary the previous weekend. Hart, Grady Lacourciere, Trent Jenks and Jackson Bauer combined for seven innings of one-run ball, only allowing three hits in a much-needed strong performance.
“[The bullpen] was great,” said Hofstra head coach Frank Catalanotto. “I thought Hart was really good. Lacourciere, Bauer [and] Jenks all came out and did well. It’s big for the confidence to have a bounce back like that … I thought that was huge.”
Christian Rasmussen got the start in his collegiate debut after missing the first 29 games with a back injury. Rasmussen pitched just over two innings while giving up two earned runs on two hits and striking out one batter.
“I thought [Rasmussen] looked good,” Catalanotto said. “We’re looking for guys who aren’t afraid to throw strikes and challenge hitters … I’m excited to have him back.”
The Pride had their chances early on, loading the bases in the first inning and getting two runners into scoring position in the second inning, but they were unable to cash in on either opportunity.
After two scoreless innings to start the game, Rasmussen returned to the mound for the third inning. A leadoff double to Pat Wade and a towering two-run home run from Owen Estabrook gave the Lions the first runs of the game. Lacourciere came in to retire the next three batters to limit the damage.
Brendan Murphy struck out Masiuk and Castrataro and brought Michael Craig to ground out to second base as Hofstra stranded their sixth man on base in just three innings after a leadoff double from Tyler Cox.
Jack Kail hit a one-out single in the top of the fourth before advancing to third base on a pair of wild pitches from Lacourciere. Jackson Brewer drove him in with a sacrifice ground out, but the Pride settled down, shutting out the Lions the rest of the way.
Lucas Dixon made his season debut, replacing Murphy in the fifth, but he quickly got into trouble as the Pride’s bats found the big hits they were in search of.
Palmer led off with a long double off the center field wall, scoring on Michael Brown’s eighth double of the season. Cox got on base with a fielder’s choice as Brown was tagged out trying to reach third after a heads-up play from third basemen Griffin Palfrey, but a Masiuk single and a double from Castrataro drove in Cox to set up Griggs’ game-winning hit.
After Hart and Jenks put up zeros in the sixth and seventh innings, Bauer came in and retired all six batters he faced to close out the game and earn his first save of the season.
“After a game like today, we can have some confidence, build some momentum and know that ‘hey, we can get guys out,’” Catalanotto said. “We don’t have to be worried about going to the bullpen … and have a good series this weekend.”
The Pride returned to the field for a Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) weekend series against the defending CAA champions, UNC-Wilmington. The first game of the series was Friday, April 4. The first pitch from University Field was scheduled for 2 p.m.
