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Hofstra University Athletics

THE PRIDE OF LONG ISLAND
THE PRIDE OF LONG ISLAND
Vinnie Costello hit the game-winning home run in Sunday's victory over Elon
4
Elon ELON 21-27, 11-10 CAA
5
Winner Hofstra HOFSTRA 13-32, 6-12 CAA
Elon ELON
21-27, 11-10 CAA
4
Final
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Hofstra HOFSTRA
13-32, 6-12 CAA
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Elon ELON 0 0 0 0 2 0 2 0 0 4 7 2
Hofstra HOFSTRA 2 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 1 5 7 0

W: Weiss, Chris (5-2) L: Welhaf, Robbie (4-5)

Game Recap: Baseball | | By Len Skoros

BB: Costello's Home Run Gives Hofstra 5-4 Win Over Elon

Hempstead, NY – Freshman Vinnie Costello led off the ninth inning with a solo home run to give Hofstra a 5-4 win over Elon Sunday afternoon at University Field. The victory gave the Pride their first Colonial Athletic Association series win of the season.

Hofstra improved to 13-32 overall and 6-12 in the CAA with the win. The Phoenix fell to 21-27 overall and 11-10 in league action.

Costello took a 3-2 offering from Robbie Welhaf (4-5) and hit a towering fly ball that cleared the 20-foot high fence in left center. The home run was Costello's team-leading sixth of the season (tied with Vito Friscia). The blast made a winner out of reliever Chris Weiss (5-2), who pitched the final 2 2/3 and allowed one hit with six strikeouts.

The game was a see-saw affair that saw each team answer the other. The Pride took a 2-0 lead in the first on a sacrifice fly from Vito Friscia and an RBI infield single from Brad Witkowski. But Elon responded in the fifth with a pair of runs as Hofstra reliever John Ryan walked in a run and a second run scored on a fielder's choice.

Hofstra took a 3-2 lead in the sixth as Witkowski doubled, went to third on a passed ball and scored on a sacrifice fly from Rob Weissheier. Elon came right back in the seventh and took a 4-3 lead as Zach Evers and Ryne Ogren delivered RBI singles. The Phoenix had runners on first and third with one out when Weiss came into the game. He struck out the number three hitter in Elon's order, Kyle Jackson, and then on an attempted double steal, the runner on third was caught in a rundown and put out to get Hofstra out of the jam.

Costello got the game-tying rally started in the bottom of the seventh with a leadoff single. After an error put runners on first and second, a fielder's choice advanced Costello to third. Tom Archer then hit a sacrifice fly to left field that allowed Costello to score and tie the game.

After a scoreless eighth, Weiss struck out the side swinging in the ninth inning to set the stage for Costello's dramatics. The freshman worked the count full before taking Welhaf's 3-2 offering out of the park.

Welhaf allowed two runs on two hits in two innings of work to take the loss. Ogren and Kory Shumate each had two hits on the day for Elon.

Hofstra received a stellar start from Matt Weissheier, who allowed one hit over four scoreless innings. Witkowski and Costello each had two hits for the Pride and five different players knocked in runs.

The Pride is off until opening a three-game series on the road at James Madison on Friday night.

Notes:
-Vito Friscia extended his hitting streak to 11 games and his on-base streak to 29 games
-Archer stole a pair of bases to go along with his sac fly and base hit on the afternoon
-Weiss struck out 13 batters over 5 1/3 innings in the series.
 
 
 
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