HEMPSTEAD, New York ?“ Junior pitcher Ryan Cosentino (East Brunswick, NJ/East Brunswick) pitched a complete game one-hitter as the Hofstra Baseball team won their Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) opener, 3-2, over UNC Wilmington on Friday afternoon at University Field.

Cosentino, who struck out 13 UNC Wilmington batters, allowed just a leadoff single to senior left fielder Jason Schindler (Grapevine, TX/Grapevine) in the seventh inning.

The win, which improves Hofstra's record to 4-14 overall and 1-0 in the CAA, ended a four-game losing skid for the Pride. UNC Wilmington drops to 19-11 and 1-3 in the CAA with the loss.

The Seahawks plated the game's first run in the top of the first as junior designated hitter Chip Grawey (Vienna, VA/Paul VI) walked with one out and scored on a throwing error by freshman catcher Steven Oliveri (Huntington Station, NY/St. Anthony's). Grawey had advanced to second on a passed ball and stole third before scoring the game's first run.

Hofstra tied the game in the bottom half of the inning when freshman shortstop Josh Stern (Millwood, NY/Horace Greeley) hit his team-leading fourth home run of the season over the left field fence. Stern extended his hitting streak to 12 games with the solo blast.

Hofstra added another solo home run, courtesy of freshman third baseman J.P. Wechter (Ephrata, PA/Ephrata), to lead off the fourth inning and give the Pride a 2-1 advantage at the time. Following the home run, UNC Wilmington senior pitcher Brad Overton (Winston-Salem, NC/Mt. Tabor) retired 15 of the next 18 Hofstra batters before being relieved by junior pitcher Blake Cross (Jamestown, NC/Richmond County) in the ninth inning.

In the sixth inning, UNC Wilmington scored their second unearned run of the game as senior pinch hitter Russ Simmerman (Wilmington, NC/New Hanover) tied the game on a throwing error by freshman second baseman Ricky Caputo (Miller Place, NY/Miller Place).

With the game tied going into the bottom of the ninth after Cosentino worked a perfect top half, Hofstra came to bat with a chance to erase the unforgettable endings of the past couple games. Hofstra's last two games prior to today had ended with their opponent scoring the game winner with two outs in the bottom of the ninth.

Senior right fielder Ed Cook (Bowie, MD/DeMatha Catholic) was hit by a pitch to start the inning, and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Cosentino. Caputo was then intentionally walked and freshman pinch hitter Bryan Bugg (Norman, OK/Norman North) followed with a walk to load the bases. Senior first baseman Will Palmer (Fairport, NY/Penfield) came to the plate next and drove in the game winner with a sacrifice fly to center that scored Cook.

Wechter finished the day with three hits in four at bats, while also scoring one run and driving in another.

Overton nearly matched Cosentino with a strong performance on the mound, as he allowed only five hits and two runs in eight innings, while striking out six.

Hofstra and UNC Wilmington continue their series tomorrow, with first pitch slated for 2 p.m.

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