Nick Kozlowski returns after a 6-5 junior campaign to anchor the Hofstra pitching staff

Baseball 2/12/2015 11:12:00 AM By Len Skoros

BB: Hofstra Opens 2015 Season At UCLA

Hempstead, NY - The Hofstra University Baseball team opens up the 2015 season at UCLA Friday night in the start of a three-game series. First pitch at Jackie Robinson Stadium is set for 9 p.m. Eastern time. The series is also the start of an 11-day road trip that will see the Pride continue on to Hawaii for a five-game series next week.

The series against UCLA, which is ranked 11th in the Baseball America Preseason Poll, 10th in the Collegiate Baseball Newspaper Poll and fourth in the D1Baseball.com Poll, marks the first-ever meetings between the two schools on the baseball diamond.

The Pride, which was tabbed seventh in the Preseason CAA Coaches Poll, returns 14 players from last season's 20-24 squad, including Preseason All-Colonial Athletic Association Honorable Mention selection Dalton Rouleau at shortstop and 2014 CAA All-Rookie pick Brad Witkowski at second base. Rouleau, who was granted a sixth year of eligibility by the NCAA after missing most of the past two seasons due to injury, batted .259 in 15 games in 2014. Witkowski, who became an everyday starter following Rouleau's exit from the lineup, hit .330 and drove in 10 runs.

The Pride also returns its other infield starters in Brian MacDonald and Ryan Donovan, who split time between first base and designated hitter last season, and starting third baseman David Leiderman. MacDonald and Donovan supplied the power for the Pride in 2014, sharing the team lead with four home runs. MacDonald batted .318 and drove in a team-best 29 runs. He also made 11 appearances on the mound with no decisions and a 3.86 ERA. Leiderman batted .248 in his first season, but is coming off a fall season that saw him earn MVP honors after hitting well over .300.

The Pride outfield features returning starter Eric Ferguson and newcomers Brett Johnson and Steven Foster. Ferguson will start in right field after playing centerfield in 2014. He batted .263 with 14 RBIs and 11 stolen bases. Johnson is a senior transfer from TCU and is expected to provide a steady bat in the Pride lineup. Foster earned a starting nod as a freshman and is one of many true freshmen that will have an opportunity for immediate playing time.

Freshmen Chris Weiss and Niko Hagerty are slated to share the catching duties, while classmate Mat Annunziata is likely to see a majority of his playing time at designated hitter.

Hofstra's pitching staff is anchored by senior Nick Kozlowski, who went 6-5 with a 4.45 ERA last season. Baseball America rated him the #10 MLB Draft prospect in the CAA this season. Kozlowski is scheduled to start in Sunday's series finale. Newcomer Chris Bonk, a junior transfer from garden City Community College, will get the ball on opening night, followed by freshman Adam Heidenfelder on Saturday.

UCLA, the 2013 National Champions, are scheduled to start preseason second team All-American James Kaprielian (7-6, 2.29 in 2014), Grant Watson (4-9, 3.80) and Cody Poteet (3-5, 4.46) in the series. The Bruins were 25-30-1 in 2014, but were picked to finish first in the Pac-12 in 2015. UCLA has six position starters back and all four starting pitchers from last season. The Bruins will be bolstered by a talented freshman class that was ranked as the seventh-best in the nation by Baseball America.

Following Friday's 9 p.m. Eastern start, the teams will play Saturday with a 5 p.m. Eastern start time and then conclude with a 4 p.m. Eastern first pitch on Sunday.

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Players Mentioned

#3 Brad Witkowski: IF; 5' 10"; Sophomore; R/R

#7 Niko Hagerty: C; 6' 0"; Freshman; R/R

#9 Ryan Donovan: IF; 6' 4"; Redshirt Junior; L/L

#10 Steven Foster: OF; 5' 11"; Freshman; L/R

#13 Brett Johnson: IF/OF; 6' 2"; Senior; L/R

#15 Eric Ferguson: OF; 5' 11"; Senior; R/R

#23 Brian MacDonald: P/DH; 6' 0"; Senior; R/R

#24 David Leiderman: IF; 6' 3"; Redshirt Sophomore; R/R

#25 Mat Annunziata: IF/OF; 6' 1"; Freshman; R/R

#27 Dalton Rouleau: SS; 5' 10"; Graduate Student; R/R

Players Mentioned

#3 Brad Witkowski
: 5' 10"; Sophomore; R/R
: IF

#7 Niko Hagerty
: 6' 0"; Freshman; R/R
: C

#9 Ryan Donovan
: 6' 4"; Redshirt Junior; L/L
: IF

#10 Steven Foster
: 5' 11"; Freshman; L/R
: OF

#13 Brett Johnson
: 6' 2"; Senior; L/R
: IF/OF

#15 Eric Ferguson
: 5' 11"; Senior; R/R
: OF

#23 Brian MacDonald
: 6' 0"; Senior; R/R
: P/DH

#24 David Leiderman
: 6' 3"; Redshirt Sophomore; R/R
: IF

#25 Mat Annunziata
: 6' 1"; Freshman; R/R
: IF/OF

#27 Dalton Rouleau
: 5' 10"; Graduate Student; R/R
: SS