Hempstead, NY – Austin Pollack continued his hot hitting with a pair of doubles and Austin Gauthier drove in three runs, but it was not enough as Hofstra fell to Fairfield, 9-7, Wednesday afternoon at University Field.The Pride loaded the bases in the ninth inning and left the tying runs on base.

Each team scored at least one run in the first four innings with the Stags holding a 9-5 lead after four frames. Fairfield scored four times in the first inning, using four hits and a Hofstra error to take a lead it would not relinquish. Jack Gethings, Anthony Boselli, Dan Ryan, and Giacomo Brancato each had RBIs in the first for the Stags.

The Pride would get a run back in the first as Pollack hit a leadoff double, stole third, and came home on Gauthier's sacrifice fly. But Boselli got the run back for Fairfield in the second with an RBI single before Hofstra answered with two runs in the bottom of the inning to make it a 5-3 game. Pollack drove in a run with a bases loaded walk and Vinnie Costello scored on a wild pitch.
After each team scored in the third, with the Pride's run coming on Vito Friscia's fifth home run of the season, the Stags put up three runs in the fourth. Tom Ryan had the big hit, a two-run double that made it a 9-4 game. Gauthier would drive in his second run of the game in the fifth for a 9-5 score.

Hofstra would add a run in the sixth on a Gauthier double and one in the ninth on a fielder's choice groundout from Myles Mensah. But Fairfield closer Nick Grabek stranded the tying runs on base for his seventh save of the season.

Brendan Harkin (1-0), Fairfield's third pitcher of the day, was credited with the win after throwing a scoreless fifth inning. Justin Guerrera had three hits for Fairfield (16-14).

Kyle Skidmore (0-1) took the loss for the Pride after allowing five runs (three earned) and five hits in two innings. The Pride's final three relievers – James Cardinale (1 inning), Daniel Page (1 inning) and Seamus Brazill (2 innings) – held the Stags to one hit and no runs over the final four innings.

Hofstra (6-21) returns to action Friday when it hosts Colonial Athletic Association rival Towson at 3 p.m. in the first game of a three-game set.

Notes:
-Pollack is 5-8 in his last two games and added three runs scored today as well as two stolen bases.
-Parker Quinn had two hits for the second consecutive day.
-Friscia's home run was the 22 of his career.
-Kevin O'Connor drew four walks.
-Hofstra is 9-14 all-time versus Fairfield.