Brian Witkowski's ninth inning single drove in Keith Fier to give Stony Brook a come-from-behind win over Hofstra, 10-9, Tuesday afternoon. Stony Brook improves to 17-14 with the win, while Hofstra drops to 12-26 with its fourth consecutive loss.
Hofstra jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the second as sophomore second baseman Matt Prokopowicz led off the inning with a solo home run, his fourth of the season. Later in the inning sophomore designated hitter Dion Pouncil came in on an error for the Pride's second run. The Seawolves got one run back in the third as Fier led off with a double, moved to third on Witkowski's groundout and came in to score on a passed ball.
The Pride extended the lead to 6-1 in the top of the fourth as sophomore John Kenny and senior Anthony Sarno each had two-run doubles. Stony Brook fought back in the bottom of the frame, scoring three times. Michael Tansey led off with a single and Chad Rebecca walked. After a strikeout, Fier blasted a three-run shot to cut the Pride lead to 6-4. The Seawolves got another run across the plate in the fifth as Rob Dyer walked, moved to second on a singe by Steve Mazzurco and scored on a singe by Rebecca.
Hofstra got some breathing room in the sixth as Kenny reached on a two-out error and moved to third on a single by Sarno. Senior Matt Kougasian then laced a double to score two runs and extend the lead to 8-5. Stony Brook chipped away and scored a run in the sixth and two in the seventh to tie the score at 8.
Hofstra went up, 9-8, in the eighth as the Pride took advantage of shaky defensive play to plate an unearned run. Junior Mark Stuckless reached on an error and moved to second on a passed ball. After a strikeout and a groundout, Kougasian delivered his third RBI of the afternoon with a single to left that drove home Stuckless. But, the lead was short-lived as Dyer led off the home eighth with a double and, two batters later, came in to score on Tansey's single.
In the bottom of the ninth the Seawolves were the beneficiary of a Hofstra defensive lapse as Fier led off the inning by reaching on an error by Tom Legregni and then stole second. Witkowski then singled to right center to drive in the winning run.
Freshman Anthony Gionesi was the hard-luck loser, falling to 1-2 on the year after giving up two hits and an unearned run in two-thirds of an inning. Jordan Purington improved to 3-0 for the Seawolves, as he pitched the ninth and allowed one walk and struck out a batter.
Fier finished 3-for-4 with two doubles, a home run, three RBIs and four runs for Stony Brook, while Tansey had four hits and an RBI. Kougasian was 2-for-4 with three RBIs, while Kenny and Sarno had two RBIs each. Prokopowicz finished the day 3-for-5 with a double and a home run.
The Pride return to action tomorrow afternoon at St. John's. First pitch is slated for 3 p.m.
