The Hofstra baseball team continued its series against Liberty University on Saturday, March 16, and dropped its sixth consecutive game, losing this one 1-0. The loss puts them at 2-11 on the season, while the Liberty Flames improved to 14-4. The game was a hard-fought pitching duel until Liberty tacked on the first and only run in the eighth inning.
The Pride could not get anything going on offense. They left runners on base in six innings, including two with the bases loaded. They stranded 14 runners on base.
Their pitching, however, was dominant. Starter Ryan Rue fired six scoreless innings, allowing only three hits and striking out three. The Flames starting pitcher, Noah Skirrow, also threw a gem, pitching five shutout innings, with six hits and seven strikeouts. The Pride had one of their best scoring chances in third inning with bases loaded and two outs. Parker Quinn had a chance to put the Pride on the board, but Skirrow got him to fly out to center field.
In the fourth inning, Liberty had runners on first and second, after a single by Brandon Rohrer and a walk by Cam Locklear. Rue escaped the jam by getting Jaylen Guy to pop out to first baseman Rob Weissheier. Hofstra then loaded the bases again in the sixth inning, but failed to capitalize again. Sean Rausch stepped up to the plate, but he could not get the job done and grounded into a fielder’s choice.
The scoreless tie was finally broken in the eighth inning when Tyler Galazin drove in Jonathan Embry with an RBI single to put the Flames up 1-0. Evan Brabrand came on to pitch in the top of the ninth and shut down the Pride 1-2-3 to close out the game.
Garret Price got the win for Liberty and pitched three shutout innings, lowering his season ERA to 1.23. For Hofstra, Andrew Mundy allowed the game’s only run and took his first loss of the season. Rausch, Quinn, Austin Gauthier, Vito Friscia and Myles Mensah all had hits for Hofstra, but could not generate a run.
Rue has put up strong numbers in his freshman season with the Pride and added on to that with his performance against Liberty. He has pitched to a 2.28 ERA in 23.2 innings with 13 strikeouts so far.
Hofstra will try to avoid getting swept by the Flames and get back on the winning track when the two teams play on St. Patrick’s Day at 1 p.m.
Image Courtesy of Hofstra Athletics
