Hofstra University Athletics

BB: Five-Run Third Leads Pride Past VCU

5/14/2011 5:09:00 PM

Richmond, Va. - Shortstop Matt Ford had a two-run single to key a five-run third inning as the Hofstra Baseball team captured a 9-4 win over VCU on Saturday morning.

With the win, the Pride improves to 13-31 on the season, including 10-17 in the CAA, while VCU sees its record slip to 21-29 and 11-16 in conference play.

The two teams exchanged three runs in the first inning, before the Pride rallied with a five-run third to take command with an 8-3 lead. Catcher Matt Reistetter led off with a walk, and center fielder Danny Poma followed with a single to put runners on first and third and nobody out.

After a walk loaded the bases with one out, right fielder T.J. Thomas broke the tie with a sacrifice fly to give Hofstra a 4-3 lead. Second baseman Logan Davis followed with an RBI single and a walk re-loaded the bases. Ford then greeted reliever Michael Graham with a two-run single, and designated hitter Dylan Nasiatka tacked on another RBI single to make the score 8-3.

Poma then tripled to lead off the fourth inning, and came home on an RBI groundout from first baseman Jared Hammer to extend Hofstra's lead to 9-3. VCU got one run back in the bottom of the sixth, but could come no closer as Jeff Guthridge threw three innings of three-hit relief to get his fourth save.

In the first inning, the teams exchanged three-run outbursts. A two-run double from Hammer gave Hofstra a quick 2-0 lead and a throwing error off the bat of Thomas allowed Hammer to score with an insurance run. VCU, though, used four singles and a sacrifice fly off of Hofstra starter Jared Rogers to even the score back up at 3-3, with first baseman Taylor Perkins' two-out single knotting the score.

Hammer finished 2-for-5 with three RBI for the Pride, while Poma was 2-for-5 with two runs scored and Nasiatka was 2-for-5 with a run scored and an RBI. Rogers went six innings, allowing 10 hits and four runs (three earned) to get his first win of the year.

Hofstra closes out the regular season next weekend with a three-game home series against Old Dominion.

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