Norfolk, VA – Vinnie Costello and Vito Friscia homered in a three-run sixth inning to give Hofstra a 7-6 lead in a come-from-behind 8-6 victory Sunday afternoon to complete a three-game sweep of Norfolk State. Friscia's two-run blast proved to be the game-winning hit.

The Pride, which has won five consecutive games, is now 5-2 on the season. Norfolk State slipped to 0-9 in 2018.

Hofstra led 4-0 after the top of the fourth, scoring two runs in the first and two in the fourth. Rob Weissheier drove in the first two runs with a single, while the sophomore first baseman started the fourth inning rally with a leadoff double. He would later come in to score on the front end of a double steal. The Pride's fourth run scored on a Norfolk State error.

The Spartans would score the next six runs, two in the fourth and four in the fifth to take a 6-4 lead. Norfolk State took advantage of a pair of Pride errors in the fourth, scoring a pair of unearned runs. Alsander Womack had the big hit in the fifth, a three-run home run off of Seamus Brazill.

The Pride responded in the top of the sixth as Costello hit a solo home run with one out in the inning. The home run was Hofstra's first of the year. Two-batters later, Austin Gauthier had a two-out single to bring up Friscia. The junior catcher turned on a pitch and yanked a home run down the left field line for a 7-6 Hofstra lead. Hofstra would add an insurance run in the seventh on Weissheier's sacrifice fly.

Brazill, who pitched a no-hitter in his last start, allowed six hits over four-plus innings. He gave up five runs (3 earned) and struck out one.  Zach Altieri (1-0) came on in relief and pitched one inning and was the pitcher of record for the Pride. Michael James followed with a scoreless inning before Chris Weiss went the final three, striking out eight batters to notch his first save of the season.

Weissheier finished 3-4 with three RBIs, while Friscia was 3-5 with a pair of runs and RBIs. Costello was 2-2 and Mikey Riesner also added a pair of hits.

Trey Hanchey (0-3) took the loss for Norfolk State, allowing seven runs (5 earned) on nine hits in 5 2/3 innings.

Hofstra is back in action next Saturday and Sunday at the UMBC Tournament featuring Mount St. Mary's and UMBC.

Notes:
-The win was the first of Altieri's career.
-Gauthier and Steven Foster extended their hitting streaks to four games.
-The five-game win streak is Hofstra's longest since the 2016 season.
-Hofstra is now 4-4 all-time versus Norfolk State