Hempstead, NY - Nick Pappas hit two home runs, including a solo shot in the eighth that snapped a 3-3 tie, as College of Charleston took the opener of a three-game Colonial Athletic Association series, 7-3, Friday afternoon.

Charleston improved to 34-15 overall and 12-4 in CAA play with the win. Hofstra fell to 18-22 overall and 6-10 in league action.

Hofstra took a 2-0 lead in the second inning as Eric Ferguson doubled with two outs, stole third and scored on an error on the play. Ryan Donovan followed with a solo home run to left field, his third of the year, to make it a 2-0 game.

But the Cougars stormed back in the top of the third, scoring three times to take the lead. Pappas singled and went to second on a walk. Following a fly out, catcher Ryan Welke took a Nick Kozlowski pitch over the left centerfield fence for a three-run home run that gave Charleston the lead.

Hofstra used a two-out home run of its own to tie the score in the fifth with catcher Robbie Cafiero collecting his second four-bagger of the season.

The score remained that way until Pappas took Kozlowski's first pitch of the eighth inning over the right centerfield fence. The first baseman would add a three-run shot in the ninth to account for the final score.

Kozlowski (6-5) went a career-long 8 2/3 innings and struck out a career-best nine batters in the game. He allowed six runs on five hits and walked seven batters.

Taylor Clarke (9-3) scattered five hits over 7 1/3 innings and struck out six. Michael Hanzlik picked up his 11th save, striking out four batters in 1 2/3 innings.

Cafiero had two of the Pride's five hits. Pappas was 3-5 with four RBIs for Charleston.

The series continues Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m.