Matt Collins delivered a three-RBI double in the bottom of the third inning to give the Tigers a 5-2 lead over Hofstra and held on to win by the same score in game one of a three-game conference series Friday afternoon. Matt Prokopowicz had two hits and two RBI for the Pride who fall to 6-13 (0-7 CAA) while Towson improves to 6-12 (1-6 CAA).

Towson got on the board first with a run in the first inning. Hofstra starter Rob Kumbatovic hit lead-off batter Gary Helmick to start the game. Then, Helmick advanced to second base on a wild pitch and moved to third on a single by Terry Gallo. Brian Conley drove the run home with a sacrifice fly to left field, putting the Tigers ahead 1-0.

Hofstra came back to take a one run lead, 2-1 in the third inning. With one out, David Cole and Tom Legregni smacked back-to-back singles and were advanced to second and third by Mark Stuckless, who laid down a sacrifice bunt. Prokopowicz came through with a single up the middle to bring home Cole and Legregni, his fifth and sixth RBI in the last two days.

Towson answered back with four runs in the bottom half of the third to take the lead for good. The Tigers loaded the bases in the bottom of the third, after a hit batsmen and consecutive singles. Then, Conley recorded his second RBI with a groundout to second base, tying the score at 2-2. Kumbatovic hit the next batter to reload the bases for Collins who doubled down the right field line, clearing the bases and putting Towson up 5-2.

That was all the run support Towson starter Zach Umberger needed as he shut out the Pride for 8.2 innings before giving way to Jon Dupski to get the final two outs. Kumbatovic completed seven innings for Hofstra, allowing five runs on eight hits while striking out three to take the loss.

The Pride continue their series with Towson Saturday afternoon at Schuerholz Park. Game time is set for 1 p.m.