Hempstead, NY - Coming off the team's first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance in the program's 84-year history, the Hofstra baseball team will be honored by the New York Mets on Saturday, July 2.

First pitch from Citi Field for the Mets versus the Texas Rangers is scheduled for 4:10 p.m. The team will be on the field pregame and will be recognized during the contest from their seats and showcased on the video board in the stadium.

"We are so thankful to the New York Mets for honoring such a special team," commented Head Coach Frank Catalanotto. "This team never stopped believing in themselves from the start of the season until the end. Through all the comeback wins and the run to the championship, they were tremendous in every way. This team will go down in history and I am so proud of each and every one of them."

Nearly every member of the 2022 Pride is expected to be in attendance for the celebration of the program's Colonial Athletic Association title and NCAA Regional appearance. 

Catalanotto, in his first year at the helm of the Pride and a former New York Met, led Hofstra to 30 wins during the season and guided the team to a tie for second in the regular season standings. It was truly a remarkable year for Hofstra as the fairytale season saw the Pride picked last in the preseason CAA coaches poll, only to climb the mountain and win the league title last month. The Pride would excel in the CAA Championship as Hofstra went a perfect 4-0, marking the first undefeated run since 2017, to capture the title with a 7-6 victory over Northeastern on May 29.

Hofstra would go on to face #10 North Carolina and Georgia in the NCAA Regional in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. 

It will be a homecoming of sorts for Catalanotto, who played 14 seasons of MLB. Catalanotto was a member of the Mets in 2010 and interestingly enough played five seasons (2000-2002, 2007-2008) for the Rangers, the opponent on Saturday.