Sophomore Matt Prokopowicz and junior Chris Mentrasti each picked up three hits, but Northeastern took both games of a doubleheader on Saturday afternoon defeating the Pride 8-5 in game one and 6-2 in the second game. The Huskies were led by Mike Lyon, who hit three home runs on the day. With the victories, Northeastern improves to 19-22-1 (9-14-1 CAA) while Hofstra drops to 18-33 (6-21 CAA).
Lyon hit a walk-off three-run home run, his third homer of the game, in the bottom of the seventh to lift Northeastern over Hofstra, 8-5, in game one of the twin bill. Alex Fox led off the seventh with a pinch-hit single and Frank Compagnone reached on a fielder's choice bunt when the Pride could not retire Fox at second, putting the first two runners on. After senior Brody Fontaine got Mike Tamsin to fly out for the first out of the inning, Lyon pulled one over the left field fence to end the game.
Northeastern scored four runs in the first to take an early lead. Lyon started the scoring with a two-run homer to put the Huskies ahead 2-0. Tony Dicesare and David Gustafson added RBI doubles later in the inning to up the lead to 4-0. Lyon hit his second home run of the game in the third, this time a solo shot, to increase the lead to 5-0.
Hofstra clawed back with two runs in the fourth and two more in the sixth to cut the lead to 5-4. Senior Dave Cole drove home the first Hofstra run with a groundball to second base to force home Prokopowicz and junior Nick Panzarella followed with a single up the middle to plate Kougasian. Panzarella drove in his second run of the game with a single to center in the sixth to score Kougasian for the second time and Tony Schmitt cut the lead to 5-4 with an RBI groundout to push Hagburg across.
The Pride tied the game at 5-5 in the top of the seventh when sophomore Elliot Hagburg drove home junior Chris Mentrasti on a groundball to second base. However Hofstra could not force extra innings as Lyon came through with his third homer of the game in the bottom of the seventh.
Sheldon McDonald earned the win for Northeastern despite allowing the tying run to score in the seventh as Lyon bailed him out in the home half of the inning. Fontaine took the loss for Hofstra. Sophomore Drew Luedtke started for the Pride and allowed five runs in 4.1 innings of work.
In game two of the doubleheader, Hofstra struck first to take a 1-0 lead when Mentrasti drove home junior Mark Stuckless after he reached on a double and was advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by sophomore John Kenny.
The lead was short lived however, as the Huskies struck for three runs in the bottom of the inning. Tamsin drove home two runs with a double to left center to put Northeastern ahead, 2-1, and scored two outs later when Josh Porter doubled.
In the fifth, Frank Pesanello blasted his 15th home run of the year to left center to make the score 4-1. The Huskies proceeded to score two more runs in the inning, one on an error and another on a wild pitch before Hofstra junior Bobby Neelon got the third out of the inning.
Prokopowicz got one back in the sixth for Hofstra when he doubled home Mentrasti, cutting the lead to 6-2.
It proved to be too little, too late as the Pride were unable to close the gap anymore as Kris Dabrowiecki came on to pitch the final 3.2 innings for Northeastern. Dabrowiecki did not allow a hit and struck out four to pick up the save.
McDonald earned his second win of the day as he allowed just two runs in 5.1 innings while recording six strikeouts. He improves to 9-1. Neelon took the loss for Hofstra.
The Pride return to action on Tuesday, May 6 for a non-conference game at Manhattan College. Game time is set for 3:30 p.m.
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