Centerfielder Adam Heffron hit a grand-slam home run in a six-run fourth inning to lead Towson past Hofstra, 11-6, Saturday afternoon in a Colonial Athletic Association game at University Field. Towson, which hit three home runs in the game, improves to 16-12, 4-4 in the CAA, while Hofstra falls to 11-17, 2-6 CAA.
Hofstra scored in the first as first baseman Mike Walsh (Norfolk, MA) singled to left field and scored third baseman Ricky Caputo (Miller Place, NY), who had walked.
The lead was short-lived as Towson got on the board with four runs in the second. Designated hitter Casper Wells started it off with a solo home run, his 10th of the season, to left center. After right fielder Mark Chiccini singled and first baseman Jason Maxey doubled, second baseman Pat Fields reached on an error by Caputo and Chiccini scored. Chiccini was 3-for-5 in the game with two runs scored and two RBI.
The Tigers tacked on another run in the third and then added six runs in the fourth. After the bases were loaded due to two Pride errors and starting pitcher Charlie Frago (Cromwell, CT) was lifted for Ryan Dunn (E. Islip, NY), Heffron came up to bat and slammed his fifth home run of the season off Dunn, a grand-slam to right center. Two batters later, Chiccini homered to left, his seventh of the season.
The Pride put up three runs in the fifth and two in the eighth to narrow the deficit, but could not get any closer.
Dennis Lane (1-2) earned the win for the Tigers, while Frago (1-3) took with the loss for the Pride after allowing seven runs.
These two teams will meet for the CAA series finale Sunday, April 10 at 1 p.m.
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