Richmond, VA - Hofstra carried a three-run lead into the fifth inning before VCU scored four times in both the fifth and seventh innings as the Pride fell, 13-7, to the Rams in a CAA contest Sunday afternoon at the Diamond.

Junior Matt Prokopowicz (Massapequa, NY) led Hofstra's offense, going 2-4 with two RBIs and a run scored. But it wasn't enough to prevent a three-game sweep for Hofstra, which fell to 5-18 and 1-8 against the conference. Nate Furry ignited VCU's attack, compiling four hits in five at-bats while driving in two runs to help the Rams improve to 14-10 and 4-2 versus the CAA.

The Pride mounted a three-run rally in the fifth for its last salvo. Senior Tom Legregni (Paramus, NJ) initiated a two-out rally, lacing a single through the left before stealing second. Prokopowicz followed with a base hit up the middle to plate Legregni and back-to-back walks chased starter Ryan Crosby. Seth Cutler-Voltz entered a promptly hit a batter to force in a run and keep the bases loaded.

Sophomore Scott A'Hara (Downingtown, PA) reached in a fielding at error at short, scoring senior Chris Mentrasti (Hartsdale, NY) to cap Hofstra's rally, with the Pride taking a 5-2 lead heading into the home half of the fifth.

That was where the Rams changed the game's complexion. Hofstra junior starter Rob Kumbatovic (Hillsborough, NJ) allowed a single and walk before getting a flyout to start the inning. Just Wright, who homered in the series' first two games, continued to torment the Pride, ripping a two-run triple to right-centerfield. Wright scored on Joe Van Meter's ensuing sacrifice fly.

Kumbatovic couldn't limit the damage there. A two-out double set up Furry's RBI single to put the Rams up, 6-5, chasing the right-hander while saddling him with the no-decision. Prokopowicz tied it again in the sixth, registering a clutch two-out single to score Adam Perlo (Fairport, NY).

But Hofstra would not recapture the lead. A'Hara, who closed out the inning for Kumbatovic in the fifth, retired the first batter in the sixth inning before giving way to Jeff Guthridge following a walk and a hits-batsman. Guthridge picked up an out on a pickoff play before Doug Otto's RBI single handed VCU a 7-6 lead it would not relinquish, handing A'Hara (0-3) the loss.

Furry, Matt Leskiw and Richard Gonzalez each added RBI singles to help the Rams put up four tack-on runs in the seventh to make it 11-6. Legregni added a RBI groundout in the eighth for Hofstra's final run before VCU scored twice more in the bottom half of the inning. Phillip Deane (1-2) earned his first win of the year, pitching three innings out of the bullpen.

Hofstra will be off Monday before welcoming New York Institute of Technology Tuesday afternoon. First pitch at University Field is set for 3:30 p.m.

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