Hempstead, NY - Senior center fielder
Anthony D'Onofrio capped a three-run ninth inning with a game-winning RBI single as the Hofstra baseball team rallied for a 6-5 win over Long Island in the home opener for the Pride. It also marked the home debut for Hofstra first year skipper
Frank Catalanotto.
Hofstra, which won its sixth straight home opener, improved to 2-3 on the young season. Long Island slipped to 3-6 with the loss.
The Pride entered the ninth inning facing a 5-3 deficit before tallying three runs on four hits for the late inning comeback.
Hofstra trailed 3-0 heading into the bottom of the third inning before a single from senior right fielder
Brian Morrell brought home junior left fielder
Will Kennedy for the Pride's first run of the contest.
The Sharks tacked on another run in the fourth, but the Pride once again answered and brought home a pair of runs in the bottom half of the inning to close the gap to 4-3. Senior catcher
Nick Marrero drilled a two-run home run to left field with one out to bring home graduate student third baseman
Jake Liberatore and junior center fielder
Anthony Fontana for the Pride.
The lead for LIU would be at two, 5-3, heading into the Pride's final at bat of the game and setting up Hofstra's thrilling rally.
Junior second baseman
Santino Rosso got the rally started with a walk to start the inning. Kennedy answered with a single to put runners on first and second for the Pride and Morrell notched an RBI single to left center to bring home Hofstra's first run of the inning. Junior pinch hitter
Kevin Bruggeman would single up the middle to allow Kennedy to cross the plate and tie the game at five. It was then time for D'Onofrio's heroics as after an intentional walk, he came to the plate and singled to center field to drive home Morrell for the game-winning run.
Sophomore
Cullen SantaMaria earned the win for Hofstra as he tallied the final two outs in the top of the ninth. Five different Pride pitchers saw action in the game. Senior pitcher
Mike McKenna had a strong outing for Hofstra as he worked 2.1 innings and struck out a pair of batters.
Morrell finished with three hits and a pair of RBI for Hofstra, while Rosso had a hit and three walks in the game. Kennedy also notched two hits for the Pride in the winning effort.
Michael Edelman, Colin Adams, and Luke Turner all had two hits for the Sharks, with Edelman also scoring a pair of runs and driving in one.
Hofstra returns to University Field on Saturday when it hosts Saint Peter's at 11 a.m.
NOTES
- Hofstra is now 2-0 all-time against Long Island.
- Hofstra improved to 15-6 in its last 21 home openers.
- The home run was the first of Marrero's Pride career.
