Hempstead, NY- New York Tech's Ryan Campbell and Jerry Smith lined back-to-back 10th inning RBI singles as Hofstra fell to the Bears, 12-10, in its home opener Thursday afternoon at University Field.
Hofstra seniors Matt Prokopowicz (Massapequa, NY) and Ethan Paquette (West Burke, VT) each registered three RBIs. The Pride still fell to 0-10 while New York Tech won its third straight in improving to 3-3.
Smith hit two home runs and finished 3-for-5 with five RBIs and two runs scored. Christian Dienna also lined five hits in five at-bats as Hofstra fell to 8-4 in home openers since 1999.
Hofstra erased three separate New York Tech leads before the Bears mounted its late comeback. Paquette's second home run of the year gave Hofstra 10-9 eighth inning lead. Paquette drilled Tom Cardona's first pitch offering over the wall in left-center, scoring freshman outfielder Jordan Bredehoeft (Morgan Hill, CA) on the two-run shot.
But Brian Smith's RBI single in the ninth off junior closer Jeff Guthridge (Bel Air, MD) tied it. Dienna worked a leadoff single in the 10th against junior Sean Monaghan (East Meadow, NY) to start the rally. Monaghan fell to 0-2. Jon Costa pitched a scoreless ninth to go to 1-0 while Mike Roth earned his first save of the season.
Hofstra will next be in action this weekend with a pair of doubleheaders against Fairfield. Game time for the opener on both Saturday and Sunday is set for noon.
