Freshman right fielder David Cole (Teaneck, NJ) smacked the game-winning hit to center to break a 6-6 tie in the tenth inning and propel Hofstra past Towson, 7-6, Sunday afternoon in the Colonial Athletic Association series finale at University Field. With the win, Hofstra (12-17, 3-6 CAA) won the series, two games to one, over Towson (16-12, 4-5 CAA).
Towson got on the board first as third baseman Hans Falkenhan hit his fourth home run of the season, a solo shot to right.
Hofstra responded with three runs in the bottom of the frame. Cole (pictured) and Josh Stewart (Bloomsburg, PA) hit back-to-back singles and came around to score on third baseman Ricky Caputo's (Miller Place, NY) double to left center. Caputo later scored as Towson starter Casper Wells threw a wild pitch.
The Tigers added a run in the fourth to close within one, 3-2, as Pat Fields and Ryan Schreiter hit back-to-back doubles to right center. The Pride collected another run in the seventh as Wells balked home left fielder Eric Balson (Staten Island, NY).
Hofstra scored two more runs in the eighth to take the lead, 6-2, but Towson had a four-run ninth inning to force the extra inning. Wells, who batted for himself and later served as the designated hitter, slammed his 11th home run of the season to left center, a three-run shot off Pride reliever Jeff Denlea (Oyster Bay, NY). Right fielder Mark Chiccini followed with a single, his third of the game, and later scored the tying run when A.J. Tinnerella hit a sacrifice fly to center that sent the game into extra inings for the second time in the series.
In the bottom of the 10th Pride shortstop Josh Stern (Millwood, NY) reached base on an error by Falkenhan and three batters later scored as Cole laced a single to center off reliever Jason Volker. Cole was 2-for-4 in the game. Stern and first baseman Mike Walsh (Norfolk, MA) each went 2-for-5 with Stern collecting two RBI.
Jason Maxey went 2-for-3, Fields went 2-for-4, and Jeremy Stifler went 3-for-5 for the Tigers.
Freshman reliever Anthony Sarno (1-0) earns his first collegiate win after pitching a hitless 10th inning. Volker (2-2) took the loss for the Tigers.
The Pride will next be in action on Tuesday, April 12, as it hosts the St. Francis Terriers at University Field at 3:30 p.m.
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