Defending CAA Champion Hofstra Opens 2023 Campaign At Florida Gulf Coast

2/15/2023 6:59:00 PM | By: Len Skoros

Hempstead, NY - The Hofstra University baseball team will begin defense of their 2022 Colonial Athletic Association championship Friday night when the Pride opens the 2023 campaign at Florida Gulf Coast University. Game time at Swanson Stadium is set for 6:30 p.m.

There will be live statistics available for the game. As of now, there is no video stream scheduled. A link to the live stats (and any possible video) can be found above or on the baseball schedule page of GoHofstra.com.

Hofstra is coming off a magical 2022 season that saw the Pride win their first-ever CAA title and advance to NCAA Regionals for the first time in program history as well under first -year Head Coach Frank Catalanotto. Hofstra was 30-23 last season and returns every starter from that team including All-CAA selections Brian Morrell, Brad Camarda, Michael O'Hanlon, Kevin Bruggeman, Ryan Morash, and Jake Liberatore.

Morrell, a graduate outfielder, batted a team-best .346 last season with eight home runs and 39 RBIs. Camarda, a graduate pitcher, was 8-2 with a 3.82 ERA and was named the CAA Championship Most Outstanding Player. O'Hanlon, the Pride's closer, was 3-2 with six saves and a 4.74 ERA. Bruggeman, a senior catcher, batted .293 with seven home runs and 33 RBIs. Morash, a graduate infielder, hit .289 with 11 doubles and 12 stolen bases, while Liberatore, a graduate utility player, batted .292 with four home runs and 22 RBIs.

Hofstra returns many other key players from the 2022 team including Preseason All-CAA honorable mention pick, outfielder Will Kennedy. The junior batted .331 last season with 11 doubles and 22 RBIs. Other returning starting position players include senior second baseman Santino Rosso (.266, 4 HR, 28 RBIs), senior shortstop Michael Florides (.252, 18 RBIs), graduate center fielder Anthony D'Onofrio (.257, 12 2B, 25 RBIs), and junior utility man Steve Harrington (.260, 7 HR, 24 RBIs). Zach Bailey, Nick Marrero, Matt Pelcher, and Frankie DiMartino also return.

The starting staff returns graduate pitcher Mark Faello, who was 7-4 last season, as well as graduates John Mikolaicyk, who was 1-1 last season, and Ryan Rue, who missed all of last season due to injury. The Hofstra bullpen welcomes back junior Steven Kaenzig, who made 16 appearances and had two wins and a save, as well as Bailey (1-0 in five appearances), senior Garrett Sullivan (2-0 in 11 appearances), Tristan Nemjo (one win in 11 appearances), Danny Kelleher (11 appearances), and Mike McKenna (two saves in four appearances).

Hofstra, which was picked to finish third in the CAA Preseason Poll, also has 14 newcomers that will look to make an impact.

Florida Gulf Coast was 35-23 last season and was picked to finish third in the Atlantic Sun this season. Senior third baseman Alejandro Figueredo was named the ASUN Preseason Player of the Year.

This will be the first meeting between Hofstra and Florida Gulf Coast on the diamond.

Following the trip to Florida, the Pride will return home to host Albany next Friday through Sunday, February 24-26, in a three-game series at University Field.

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