PRIDE SWEPT BY UNCW IN CONFERENCE OPENER

3/13/2009 6:45:00 PM

Wilmington, NC --
Hofstra built leads in both ends of a doubleheader against UNC Wilmington but couldn't finish off the Seahawks, falling 19-6 in the opener and 8-6 in the nightcap Friday.

Senior rightfielder Mark Stuckless (Kanata, Ontario) continued his torrid hitting as the Pride's leadoff man, going a combined 4-for-7 with two multi-hit games, two RBIs and three runs scored, though Hofstra fell to 0-8 and 0-2 in CAA play. UNC Wilmington sustained its good start, improving to 13-2 and 2-0 after opening up conference play with a pair of victories at Brooks Field.

Junior pitcher Rob Kumbatovic (Hillsborough, NJ) took a lead into the fifth in the second game, which was seven innings per NCAA rules. But the Seahawks erased the Pride's 4-2 advantage with a six-run inning.

Grayson Evans drilled a one-out home run to centerfield and the Seahawks added two singles and a walk to load the bases. Mike Rooney added to his impressive evening, lacing a two-run double down the left field line to give the Seahawks a 5-4 lead and chase Kumbatovic. Rooney had four RBIs in the opener to go along with his two in the nightcap.

Senior left-hander Brody Fontaine (Amenia, NY) came on in relief but couldn't escape further trouble. Alex Hill greeted the southpaw with a two-run triple to right-centerfield and Ben Thielsen followed with a RBI double to cap the rally and forge an 8-4 edge.

Senior second baseman Tom Legregni (Paramus, NJ) took advantage of a passed ball and a wild pitch to make a comeback bid, lifting a two-run single to center to cut Hofstra's deficit to 8-6 in the sixth. Yet Bryan Booth picked up the save, retiring all four batters he faced for the Seahawks while Kumbatovic fell to 0-3.

Stuckless helped Hofstra surge to a quick 3-0 lead in the opener, assisted by Hofstra's three straight hits to start the contest. Stuckless, who went 2-for-3 with a run scored while adding a RBI, doubled to start the game and scored on Matt Prokopowicz's single up the middle. Legregni, who followed Stuckless' extra-base hit with a single, scored on the front end of a double-steal attempt to put the Pride up 2-0.

Hofstra tacked on another run in the second when Stuckless doubled to left-center, bringing home Adam Perlo (Fairport, NY). But the Seahawks answered right back, scoring a pair of runs in the second and third innings against senior Nick Panzarella (Three Bridges, NJ). Bobby Leeper added a two-run homer to left in the second and UNC Wilmington tacked on two more in the third to take the lead.

Panzarella pitched a season-high 5 2/3 innings. The left-hander still fell to 0-2 after giving up eight runs (five earned) on 10 hits. UNC Wilmington chased Panzarella with a seven-run sixth that almost had a positive start for Hofstra. Panzarella retired the first two batters before a fielding error prolonged the inning. That was the first of eight straight base-runners against three Pride pitchers; a rally capped by Rooney's three-run triple off Dan Robl. Rooney finished with four RBIs while Robbie Monday went 3-4 with three runs scored and three RBIs.

UNC Wilmington added six tack-on runs in the seventh and another in the eighth to close out the scoring. Starting pitcher Daniel Cropper went 5 2/3 innings, giving up five runs on seven hits before giving way to Steven Davis. The freshman continued a stellar start to his collegiate career, improving to 2-0 with 1 1/3 innings of perfect relief.

Weather permitting, the Pride rounds out the three-game set against UNC Wilmington with an afternoon contest Saturday. First pitch is set for a new start time of 1 p.m.

NOTES: Stuckless led off the second game with the Pride's first home run of the season and is now batting a team-high .438.

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