By Alex Hyman, Staff Writer

The Hofstra University baseball team has dropped five consecutive games after a weekend sweep at the hands of Georgia State University and a mid-week loss to Long Island University.

After giving up a season high 23 runs to St. John’s University last week, the Pride was ready to bounce back and get a series victory.

The Pride traveled to Georgia State for a three game series with the Panthers, sending sophomore ace David D’Errico to the mound for game one.

D’Errico, who has been struggling lately, was ready to get back on track.

“His arm strength is the same, if not better. His location was off, he’s missing up in the zone” Hofstra head coach Patrick Anderson said of his starting pitcher.

The Pride got on the board early in game one when junior outfielder Danny Poma and junior infielder Joe Perez each had RBI’s.

D’Errico ran into trouble early, as the Panthers were able to plate one run in the second and four in the third to take a 5-2 lead.

The Pride battled back scoring one run in the fourth and fifth innings, getting RBI’s from freshman infielder Logan Davis and freshman outfielder Kenny Jackson.

Hofstra’s bullpen kept it in the game, finishing the final 5.1 innings by giving up just one run. The offense however, could not get anything else across and the Pride dropped the opener 6-4.

The middle game of the series brought back bad memories for the Pride, who was only able to manage four hits in a 13-0 loss.

“When we are not doing well, it’s when we are not aggressive,” said Anderson.

Senior Rob Kumbatovic got the start but could not get out of the fourth inning.

Georgia State starter Will Campbell was phenomenal pitching a complete game, surrendering just those four hits and striking out four.

The Pride played better in the series finale but still was unable to get the big hit to take the lead, losing 6-3.

Hofstra fell down 2-0 early but tied the score in the fifth inning after junior DH Dylan Nasiatka’s RBI double and senior outfielder Scott A’Hara’s RBI single.

The Panthers took the lead in the sixth inning but the Pride was able to fight back in the eighth inning when freshman catcher Matt Reistetter had an RBI single.

“It was awesome, but we still have to execute the little things,” Anderson said of his teams eighth inning comeback.

Senior Jeff Guthridge gave up three runs in the bottom of the eighth inning and the Panthers completed their sweep of the Pride.

After the weekend sweep, the Pride had a midweek game against the Blackbirds of Long Island University.

Freshman Everett Keller got the start and lasted three innings, giving up four hits and four runs, only one of which was earned.

The offense of the Pride was effective but it once again could not get many hits with runners on base.

Sophomore first baseman Jared Hammer led the team with three hits and two RBI’s.

Nasiatka also had three hits, with Poma, Davis, and sophomore shortstop Matt Ford each getting two hits. The Pride had 14 hits in total but scored just four runs, dropping the game 6-4.

Hofstra will take on the Miami Hurricanes from the Atlantic Coastal Conference for a three game series.