Bakersfield, CA - Joe Burg allowed one hit in six scoreless innings,
combining with Brett Schreiber and Bryan Verbitsky on a four-hit shutout as the
Pride posted its first win of the 2013 season in a 1-0 victory over CSU
Bakersfield Friday night at Hardt Field.
The shutout was Hofstra's first since a 7-0 win at Rutgers
on May 1, 2012 and the 1-0 blanking was the Pride's first since March 31, 2001
against Hartford. Hofstra improved to 1-4 on the season, while CSU Bakersfield
fell to 2-2.
Hofstra scored all it would need in the first inning as
Robbie Cafiero drew a one out walk and moved to second on a single from Austin Nyman. The pair moved up a base on a throwing error by CSU Bakersfield pitcher
Jeff McKenzie (1-1) and then after a two-out walk to Kenny Jackson loaded the
bases, Joe Perez drew a walk as well to force home Cafiero.
Burg (1-1) worked in and out of trouble during his six
innings, as the Roadrunners left runners in scoring position in the second,
third and fifth innings. Though he allowed just one hit, a single by Mylz Jones
in the third, Burg did walk six batters and hit one more.
The Roadrunners threatened again in the eighth against Schreiber, getting back-to-back one-out singles from Tyler
Shyrock and Oscar Sanay before Cael Brockmeyer struck out and Dylan Christensen
hit into fielder's choice to end the inning.
Hofstra had a chance for an insurance run in the ninth as
Jackson and Matt Reistetter singled to put runners on first and second with one
out. But Christensen got Brent Hall to line out and pinch-hitter Kevin Brantley
to hit into a fielder's choice to keep it a one-run game.
Verbitsky came on to close out the game in the ninth and
struck out the first two batters he faced before allowing a single. But the
junior right-hander shut the door by getting Jones to fly out to center for the
final out.
Reistetter and Hall both finished with two hits for the
Pride, including a double for Hall.
The two teams continue the series with a doubleheader
Saturday. Game one begins at 4 p.m. Eastern.
