Norfolk, VA ? Sophomore Scott A'Hara torched Norfolk State pitching with a career-best 6-6 effort and senior Mark Stuckless ripped a 12th-inning three-run double to lead Hofstra to a 13-9 victory over the Spartans in a non-conference matchup Sunday afternoon at Marty L. Miller Field.
Hofstra pounded out a season-high 28 base hits and six Pride players logged multi-hit games, capping the come-from-behind win that snapped a three-game losing streak. The Pride scored five runs in the 12th and sophomore Jeff Guthridge pitched five innings out of the bullpen in his longest career outing to pick up the victory as Hofstra improved to 8-32. Patrick Hall drove in three runs for the Spartans, though Norfolk State dropped to 20-21.
A'Hara produced one of the best games for a CAA batter this season, becoming the first Pride player in 2009 to notch a six-hit game while adding two RBIs, one run scored and one stolen base. Stuckless' effort from the leadoff spot secured the extra-inning victory, with the right fielder going 5-7 with three runs scored and three RBIs off one swing to break the deadlock.
Guthridge improved to 3-2, allowing just two runs in his five innings. Ryan Shook fell to 2-3, taking the loss in allowing five runs in 3 2/3 innings. All five of those runs came in the 12th.
Seniors Chris Mentrasti and Nick Panzarella each went 4-7 at the plate, representing just two of the 11 Hofstra hitters to register a base hit in the slugfest. But the offensive onslaught took some time, with Norfolk State pitching limiting Hofstra to just one run through the opening six innings.
The Spartans broke a scoreless tie in the fourth, chasing Panzarella, who started for the Pride before staying in the game to bat as the designated hitter. Norfolk State received RBI hits from Drew Suttmiller before Hall ripped a two-run single down the line in right. Chris Williams prompted a Hofstra pitching change with a two-run single through the left side.
Senior lefthander Brody Fontaine entered in relief, though John Lynch greeted him with a RBI single before Fontaine induced a groundout to end the inning, keeping it at 6-0. The teams exchanged runs in the fifth and Fontaine settled down, allowing just one run in 3 1/3 innings.
Hofstra's offense awoke in the seventh. Stuckless' leadoff double ignited the attack, scoring on Mentrasti's double. After a ground out, John Kenny singled and stole second. A'Hara then ripped a two-out double to plate another run, cutting the home team's lead to 7-4.
The Pride scored four times in the eighth to temporarily take the lead. Jason Donovan came in to relive starter Jason Barker, who allowed 14 hits but kept the run total to just four in seven innings. Barker retired the first two batters before allowing two consecutive singles. Junior Matt Prokopowicz swatted a two-run triple, scoring on Kenny's subsequent single. A'Hara continued his career day, reaching on an infield single for Hofstra's fourth run of the inning and an 8-7 lead.
Jermaine Berry tied the score in the bottom of the eighth, recording a two-out single off Guthridge that would eventually send the game into extra innings.
Hofstra took the lead for good, getting the jump on Shook thanks to hits from Panzarella and A'Hara to put runners on the corners. After an out and a walk, pinch hitter Tom Legregni broke the tie with a infield single. Stuckless provided needed insurance runs as the next batter, hitting a bases-clearing double.
The Pride salvaged a contest in the three-game set and will now close out the season with a three-game CAA matchup at home against William and Mary starting Friday at University Field.
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