The Hofstra University Club Baseball team will be making its second trip to the NCBA Division II World Series in three years. The Pride swept the District II tournament with three straight wins over tough competition.

After a four hour trip from Long Island to Oneonta, the No. 2 Pride squared off against the No. 3 Fordham University Rams Friday afternoon in the opening game of the tournament.

Hofstra had easily handled Fordham in two games during the fall semester, but the Rams came out with the early momentum. Fordham scored three runs in the top of the first off Hofstra starter Kevin Miraval on a few well-placed hits and a timely error.

The Pride responded immediately with three runs of its own, capped off by a two-run game-tying home run by first baseman Jim Mancari.

Fordham pushed the lead to 5-3, but once again the Pride relied on a game-tying two-run homer—this time by right fielder Joe Elio—on a ball that just barely cleared the left field fence.

With the game tied at six in the bottom of the sixth, Hofstra center fielder Chris Nardo launched the Pride’s third two-run homer of the day—an opposite field two-run shot to give the Pride an 8-6 lead.

Miraval was able to limit the Rams to just one run in the top of the inning to seal the 8-7 win for the Pride. Elio finished the game 3-for-3 with three clutch RBI.

The No. 1 seeded Northeastern Huskies—last year’s Division II World Series champions—defeated Rider University on Friday. Northeastern and Hofstra were set for an epic battle Saturday afternoon that pitted last year’s top two teams in District II against one another.

After a Matt Farra leadoff double for the second consecutive game, Mancari came through with a two-out RBI single up the middle to give the Pride the early lead.

Hofstra starter Brian Adler surrendered two runs in the bottom of the first, but he settled in nicely from there, keeping the Pride in the game until the team could mount a rally.

That rally came in the top of the fifth as Hofstra loaded the bases with one out and wound up pushing across two runs to take a 3-2 lead.

The Huskies answered with a run in the bottom of the sixth, setting the Pride up for some late inning heroics.

With two outs and nobody on base in the top of the seventh, Mancari doubled on a screaming line drive to left field. The very next pitch, third baseman Zach Rose pulled a ball right over the third base bag, which chased Mancari home with the go-ahead run.

“I was just looking to hit the ball hard and stepped up to the plate after taking an extra deep breath,” said Rose. “I was looking for a fastball belt-high, and I got my pitch and swung hard.”

Adler was able to shut the door in the seventh, giving Hofstra the 4-3 victory and putting the Pride in the driver’s seat for Sunday.

Adler handed Northeastern its only loss last season, and he followed up that performance with a huge win against the Huskies this time around in the District Playoffs. He pitched a complete game and only gave up five hits in the winning effort.

“Realizing that they [Northeastern] were on my fastball and taking it to right field, I told Greg [Palazzo] that we would need to catch them off balance and start changing speeds,” said Adler. “We used my changeup and curveball to perfection, keeping Northeastern off balance. They had no clue what was coming in any situation and any count.”

Fordham came out of nowhere to upset Northeastern late Saturday afternoon, which sent the defending champs packing. The final game of the weekend between Hofstra and Fordham was played at Damaschke Field, home of the Oneonta Outlaws.

Sunday’s contest came down to two words: James Yates.

Yates, a freshman from Palos Verdes Estates, California, ascended as the team’s No. 3 starter after a strong outing late in the season against UPenn. Not only did Yates throw strikes all game, but he also kept the Rams’ bats in check and would up not allowing a run over five innings.

Five innings would be all the Pride needed to dispose of the Rams, as Hofstra’s bats erupted for 10 unanswered runs.

All the hitters contributed to the district-winning performance, which allowed Yates to cruise. Though Yates may be one of the smaller players on the team based on stature, there’s no questioning that he has the biggest heart.

“I mainly just tried to throw strikes, particularly first pitch strikes, and let them hit the ball,” said Yates. “We have a great defense, and I knew that if I let them put the ball in play and limit the amount of walks, we would have a good chance to win.”

In the game, Mark Froehlich laced two doubles, while Matt Epstein’s RBI double and Ian Conover’s RBI triple put the icing on the cake.

For their efforts, Mancari and Yates were named NCBA District II Player of the Week and Pitcher of the Week, respectively. In the three games, Mancari went 8-for-11 with five RBI and three runs scored. Yates struck out four and walked just one in his five innings of work.

Hofstra head coach Rich Fiore was proud of his team’s accomplishment, though he is certain the job is not finished just yet.

“I think the hard work and prep really took the pressure off of us this weekend, especially in a big spot,” said Fiore. “We knew all along that we were better than these guys, so all we had to do was relax and we’d come out on top."

Congratulations to the Pride as they attempt to win the club’s first-ever Division II World Series title. If Hofstra continues its timely hitting and clutch pitching, the Pride will emerge as one of the nation’s top contenders to take home the crown.

Hofstra, the No. 5 seed, will face off against No. 4 Longwood University in Game 1 of the 2011 World Series in Johnstown, PA. First pitch set for 10:00 AM Friday, May 19th at Point Stadium.

      Hofstra University is a member of District II of the National Club Baseball Association, along with Fordham University, Northeastern University, New York University, Rider University, The College of New Jersey, Montclair State University, University of Pennsylvania, Sacred Heart University, Monroe College, Babson College, and SUNY New Paltz.

NCBA DIVISION II WORLD SERIES BRACKETS/INFORMATION