Hofstra scored three or more runs in the first three innings during which Matt Kougasian had four RBI and Nick Panzarella had three RBI as the Pride defeated Coppin State, 12-3, Wednesday afternoon. With the victory the Pride improve to 8-16 while the Eagles fall to 3-23.

Hofstra jumped out to a three-run lead in the first inning. After the first three runners reached base for the Pride, Kougasian drove a run home with a sacrifice fly for the first run. One batter later Panzarella delivered Hofstra's only hit of the inning to bring home two and increase the lead to 3-0. The Pride added three more in the second, highlighted by back-to-back RBI singles by Jeff Guthridge and Panzarella. Kougasian added his second sacrifice fly in as many innings to make the score 6-0.

Hofstra continued to score with four runs in the third, the big blows being a two-RBI double by Kougasian and an RBI double from Tom Caltabiano. Kougasian scored on a wild pitch to round out the scoring in the third, upping the lead to 10-0.

   The Pride tacked on two more runs in the seventh inning with a sacrifice fly by Adam Perlo and an RBI single by John Kenny.

Coppin State scored three runs in the fourth, two coming on a single by Roman Batista and the third scoring on a wild pitch, but it was not enough to come back against Hofstra's offensive explosion.

Ryan Radke picked up his second victory of the season, working 4.1 innings of relief and allowing only one hit and striking out three. Carlos Russell took the loss for Coppin State.

Mark Stuckless, Guthridge and Panzarella each had two hits for the Pride. Stuckless also added four runs scored and Matt Prokopowicz scored three times. Tom Legregni doubled and scored a run.

Hofstra returns to action when it opens a three-game Colonial Athletic Association series versus James Madison University on Friday. The game will be played at University Field and game time is set for 3 p.m.

-30-