The Pride won 6-4 against the Iona College Gaels on a comeback in the bottom of the ninth inning thanks to a walk-off home run from Jake Liberatore on Tuesday, May 3, at University Field. Hofstra improves to a 21-18 overall record and a 15-20 all-time record against Iona.
The game started as a defensive stalemate, with both starting pitchers trading three-and-outs early on. The Gaels drew blood first with two runs in the top of the fourth. First baseman Jake Field chopped one to right field to reach second and was brought in by a home run from Chris Mariani. Hofstra struck back in the bottom of the fourth as Pride left fielder Steve Harrington doubled to left-center field and was driven in by a single from catcher Nick Marrero, ending the frame with Iona leading 2-1.
The Gaels increased their lead in the top of the sixth when Mariani was walked and first baseman Jim Kemp doubled down the left-field line to bring him in, allowing the Gaels to pull away 3-1. The Pride struggled to respond until the bottom of the eighth. Liberatore singled up the middle and was brought home by a homer to left-center from right fielder Brian Morrell, tying the game 3-3.
The ninth inning yielded an entire game’s worth of action. Gaels shortstop Luca Lolito slammed a solo home run over the left-field fence, taking the lead 4-3 in the top of the frame. When going into the bottom of the ninth, Will Kennedy came in as a pinch hitter for Michael Florides, who worked a full count into a single to left field, and was replaced by pinch-runner Frank DiMartino, who stole second. After him, Anthony D’Onofrio was walked with a full count to put runners on first and second.
After, D’Onofrio and DiMartino made moves to steal second and third, arriving safely. To walk off the game, Liberatore crushed the ball to left field, scoring three runs to give the Pride the first lead of the day and ending the game 6-4.
“Sometimes you get the perfect situation,” said Frank Catalanotto, Hofstra baseball head coach. “We had our fastest runner in DiMartino at second and then obviously D’Onofrio at first. I thought it was the perfect storm right there”.
Kaenzig gets his first win, and his record is now 1-3, while pitching just over three innings, facing eleven batters and striking out one. Iona’s Gavin Bates gets the loss, and his record is now 0-3.
“He doesn’t get enough credit,” Catalanotto said. “You know, I have to make sure that I tell him that because he’s been outstanding lately. Yes, he gave up that home run. It was a big hit at the time, but he’s done a great job. He’s come back; he throws strikes, and he gets outs, so I’m really proud of him”.
The Pride will look to get their next win against Stony Brook on Wednesday, May 4, at Joe Nathan Field in Stony Brook, New York.
