Hempstead, NY – Hofstra starting pitcher
Matt Weissheier threw 6 1/3 innings of shutout ball and
Chris Weiss escaped a bases loaded no-out jam with just one run allowed as the Pride defeated Charleston, 2-1, Saturday at University Field. The win clinched the Colonial Athletic Association series for the Pride heading into Sunday's finale.
The Pride (16-15, 6-8 CAA) got a strong start for the second game in a row as
Matt Weissheier followed up
John Rooney's complete game by allowing just three hits in his 6 1/3 innings to improve to 3-4 on the season. Weiss pitched the final 2 2/3 to earn his sixth save, though it was not easy in the ninth.
Holding a 2-0 lead after
Mikey Riesner drove in a run and another scored on a dropped fly ball in the fifth, Weiss allowed a leadoff double to Danny Wondrack and then hit Ari Sechopolous to put runners on first and second. K.J. Bryant attempted to sacrifice the runners and put down the bunt that was fielded by Weiss. He looked at third and then fired a high throw to first that pulled Riesner, who was covering, off the bag to load the bases. Luke Manzo hit a sacrifice fly to left that ended the shutout bid and Weiss struck out Tommy Richter for the second out. Dupree Hart then hit a hard shot to first that
Rob Weissheier was able make a nice play on and flip to Weiss covering at first for the final out of the game.
Griffin McLarty (5-2) took the loss for the Cougars (27-13, 9-5 CAA) after allowing two runs (one earned) on eight hits over 5 2/3 innings. Carter Love closed out the game and allowed a pair of hits over the final 2 1/3 innings.
Riesner,
Vito Friscia and
Daniel Page each had a pair of hits on the day for the Pride.
The teams will conclude the series Sunday at 12 p.m. Please note that tis is a time change from the originally scheduled 1 p.m. first pitch.
Notes:
-Hofstra had 10 hits, reaching double digits for the first time in eight games
-
Steven Foster and
Austin Gauthier extended their on-base streaks to 14 games each.
-Before the Cougars scored in the ninth, Hofstra pitching had thrown 17 scoreless innings.
-Hofstra will be looking to sweep Charleston for the second time at University Field after taking three games in 2016.