Towson, MD- Hofstra put the potential tying and go-ahead runs in scoring position in the ninth before Towson's Drew Permison escaped the jam with a strikeout to send Hofstra to a 5-4 loss to the Tigers in a Colonial Athletic Association matchup on Friday afternoon at Schuerholz Park.
Senior Matt Prokopowicz hit a home run and drove in two runs. But Hofstra saw its six-game unbeaten streak end in falling to 15-21-1 and 6-7 in conference play. Towson's Chris Wychock and Steve Rice each recorded two RBIs to lift the Tigers to 16-28 and 9-10 against the CAA.
Prokopowicz (Massapequa, NY) homered to right on the game's third pitch to stake Hofstra to a 1-0 lead. The blast marked Prokopowicz's fifth home run and the second baseman finished 2-for-4. The second baseman now has 247 career hits and needs just one more to tie Ricky Caputo (2003-06) for the most in Hofstra history.
Wychock ignited a two-run Towson rally in the bottom of the first against Pride freshman David D'Errico (North Kingstown, RI). The Tigers loaded the bases with one out of a single, walk and a hit batter and Wychock lofted a sacrifice fly to left. Rice's RBI double down the leftfield line followed to help Towson take the lead early.
The Tigers scratched across another run in the third against D'Errico when Rice was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to make it 3-1.
Hofstra tagged Towson starter Austin Hurd for two more runs in the fifth to tie it at 3. The Pride employed small-ball tactics to generate the inning's first run. Junior Scott A'Hara (Downingtown, PA) walked to lead off the inning and junior Kevin Flynn (Morristown, NJ) was hit by a pitch. After a bunt put runners on the corners with one out, A'Hara scored on the backend of a double steal, swiping home plate to make it a one-run game.
Matt Ford (Lansing, NY) added a sacrifice fly to score fellow freshman Jordan Bredehoeft (Morgan Hill, CA) with the tying run. Reliever Tyler Austin got the final two outs of the inning as Hurd's final gave up three runs on just one hit in 4 1/3 innings in taking the no-decision.
But Towson pulled ahead for good with two more runs in the fifth via Wychock's RBI double to left-center that chased D'Errico, who was charged with five runs on seven hits in 4 1/3 innings in falling to 3-3. Austin Harclerode plated Wychock with a single to left against freshman lefty Joe Burg (Lindenhurst, IL) making it 5-3.
Prokopowicz cut it to a one-run deficit in the seventh, singling home Flynn against Wes Shifflett. After a walk put two runners on, Towson called on Permison, who recorded the last out and pitched a scoreless eighth and ninth to post his third save.
Hofstra mounted a rally in the final inning, starting with Flynn's leadoff single. Pinch-runner Peter Magistrale advanced to third on a wild pickoff throw. But Permison induced a pop up to keep the tying run 90 feet away before walking senior Elliot Hagburg (East Hanover, NJ).
Permison struck out Prokopowicz before Hagburg stole second to put the potential go-ahead run in scoring position. Ford then struck out swinging to end the first of a three-game series.
Hofstra and Towson will play again on Saturday. Game time is set for 1 p.m.
