Hempstead, NY - Hofstra jumped out to a 2-0 lead before surrendering six unanswered runs in a 6-4 loss against St. John's Tuesday afternoon at University Field. Hofstra tried to rally in the ninth and got a two-run pinch-hit home run from Sean Flaherty in the inning but could not complete the comeback.

The Pride slipped to 13-14 on the season with the loss while the Red Storm improved to 12-21 with the win.

The Pride got a pair of runs in the second inning as Steve Harrington and Jake Liberatore put together back-to-back doubles to plate one. After Liberatore move to third, Zack Bailey delivered a sacrifice fly to make it a 2-0 game.

Hofstra starter Chris Keenan cruised through the first three innings, striking out five batters, before walking the first two batters to start the fourth. That prompted a pitching change as Garrett Sullivan came out of the bullpen for the Pride. After a sacrifice bunt, Jayson Kramer put St. John's on the board with a single to right. The Red Storm would tie the game in the fifth, as Nick Cirelli singled in David Glancy, who had reached on an error.

The score remained tied until the seventh when the Red Storm scored three times. St. John's loaded the bases with no outs and Cirelli drove in a run with a single and Max Shabestari followed with a two-run double to center that made it a 5-2 game. The Red Storm added a run in the eighth on a bases-loaded walk to Shabestari.

The Pride tried to mount a rally in the ninth against closer Chuck Sanzio. Liberatore was hit by a pitch with one out, and Flaherty, batting as a pinch hitter, followed with a home run to right field to make it a two-run game. However, Sanzio was able to retire the next two batters to end the game.

Steven Kaenzig (0-3), Hofstra's third pitcher of the day, took the loss after being charged with three runs (two earned) on three hits in 1 2/3 innings.

Vincent Bianchi (1-3), who came on in relief and pitched 3 1/3 innings of no-hit, no-run ball, was credited with the win.

Hofstra returns to action Friday when it opens a three-game series against CAA rival Delaware at University Field. First pitch is set for 3 p.m.

Notes:
-Hofstra had three hits in the game.
-Flaherty's home run was the second of his career.
-Hofstra pitchers issued eight walks and hit two batters.
-The Pride is 11-64 all-time versus St. John's and dropped a pair of two-run games this season.