Wilmington, NC – Hofstra rallied from a 3-1 deficit to post a 5-3 Colonial Athletic Association victory over host UNCW at Brooks Field Friday night. Vinnie Costello tied the game with a two-run home run and Rob Weissheier's bloop single in the top of the eighth inning gave Hofstra a 4-3 lead.

Hofstra improved to 10-4 overall and 1-0 in the CAA with the win. The victory also snapped a short two-game losing streak for the Pride. UNCW slipped to 14-7 overall and 0-1 in league action.

John Rooney (3-0) picked up the win for the Pride after allowing three runs on four hits over seven innings. The junior left-hander also struck out seven batters. Two of the hits he allowed were solo home runs to Mason Berne. Chris Weiss pitched two dominant innings to earn his fourth save. The senior struck out the side in both innings and allowed one hit and one walk.

Hofstra took a 1-0 lead in the second as Costello hit a two-out single, stole second and came in on Devon Jeffrey's single. The lead was short-lived as Berne homered to start the UNCW second. The Seahawks took a 2-1 lead in the third on a Zack Canada RBI single and then added a third run in the fourth on Berne's second round-tripper of the game.

The Pride rallied to tie the score in the sixth as Mikey Riesner reached on an infield single and came in on Costello's two-run blast, his third of the season. Hofstra took the lead for good in the eighth as Weissheier's bloop single on a 3-2 count plated Teddy Cillis, who had doubled. Hofstra added an insurance run in the ninth on a fielder's choice grounder.

UNCW reliever Austin Easter (3-1) took the loss after allowing a run on two hits in 1 1/3 innings.

The teams will conclude the series Saturday at noon with a doubleheader.

Notes:
-Costello, Weissheier and Vito Friscia each had two hits on the day.
-Friscia extended his hitting streak to nine games.
-Rooney recorded his eighth pickoff of the season in the first inning.