Hempstead, NY - Will Kennedy and Brian Morrell combined for seven hits and three runs scored to back the pitching of Mark Faello and Michael O'Hanlon as Hofstra rallied for a 6-4 win over James Madison Friday afternoon at University Field in the opening game of a three-game Colonial Athletic Association series.

Hofstra extended its winning streak to three games and improved to 24-21 overall and 13-9 in Colonial Athletic Association play. James Madison is 26-21 overall and 11-7 in league play.

The Dukes jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the second as a walk, a single, and a sacrifice bunt put runners on second and third with one out. Coleman Calabrese followed with a single that glanced off the glove of a diving Zack Bailey at first base, allowing two runs to score.

Kennedy and Morrell got things started for the Pride in the fourth, lacing back-to-back singles. Kennedy would then move to third on a fly out before coming in on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Jake Liberatore. The pair would also start Hofstra's four-run rally in the sixth that put the Pride in the driver's seat for good.

Kennedy doubled to left field leading off the inning and went to third on a hard single by Morrell. Kevin Bruggeman followed with a single through the left side that drove in Kennedy with the tying run. After a ground out moved the runners to second and third, Bailey put the Pride ahead for good on a ground out to short that plated Morrell with the Pride's third run of the day. Bruggeman scored on an error on a ground ball hit by Santino Rosso to make it 4-2. Rosso would steal second and score on a single to centerfield by Ryan Morash to put the Pride on top, 5-2.

The Pride would add an insurance run in the seventh as Anthony D'Onofrio doubled to lead off and came around on a single through the right side by Kennedy.

James Madison would capitalize on three Hofstra errors in the eighth to score two runs. However, O'Hanlon kept his composure and struck out the final two batters in the inning to strand the tying runs in scoring position. He then pitched a 1-2-3 ninth with two more strikeouts to close out the game and notch his sixth save of the season. O'Hanlon allowed two unearned runs on one hit with six strikeouts over three innings.

Faello improved to 7-3 on the year and won his 10th career game in the process by scattering five hits over six innings. He allowed a pair of runs and struck out five batters.

Kennedy finished with four hits on the day, including a double, an RBI, and two runs. Morrell had three singles and a run scored.

Kyle Novak had three hits for the Dukes. Reliever Eli Ottinger (1-2) took the loss for James Madison after allowing four runs (two earned) in 2/3 of an inning. Starter Liam McDonnell allowed a run three hits in five innings of work.   

Hofstra and James Madison will play game two of the series Saturday at 1 p.m. Prior to the game, at 12 p.m., Hofstra will recognize its 19 seniors during a Senior Day ceremony.

Notes:
-The four-hit game was the first of Kennedy's career.
-Morrell has six three-hit games this season.
-Faello's 10 victories tie him for 13th-place on the Hofstra career wins list and his seven this season are tied for third on the single season list.
-O'Hanlon's six saves are tied for the fourth most in a season in program history.
-Hofstra secured an above .500 record in CAA play with the win for just the second time in the Pride's 21 seasons in the CAA.