HEMPSTEAD, NY - The Pride entered the weekend with a two game losing streak and struggling to score runs, but they quickly erased that winning three of the four contests this weekend. After a 5-2 win friday night against Rider, Hofstra split the doubleheader Saturday and exploded for 15 runs Sunday to take the series from rival NYU. Hofstra now improves to 4-3 in the conference, only a game behind 1st place UConn.

Hofstra opened up the weekend with a makeup conference game against Rider on Friday night. After falling behind 2-0, Hofstra came back with 5 unanswered runs in the 4th and 5th innings and the bullpen provided 4 and two thirds scoreless relief to give Hofstra the 5-2 win. Mark Medeiros (North Kingstown, RI), Eric Murphy (Yorktown, NY), and Phil Eslick (Plainview, NY) combined for 4.2 innings pitched, allowing only 1 hit, 2 walks, and 6 strikeouts. Medeiros and Eslick came away with a win and a save, respectively.

      On Saturday, Hofstra opened up game one with a much inauspicious beginning against NYU. Starter Tom Scopelitis (Floral Park, NY) allowed 11 runs (4 earned) before recording the second out in the first inning. This was the most runs given up by Hofstra in the first inning since Fall 2007 against Lafayette when they allowed 13. 7 of the runs came unearned as miscues in the infield extended the inning.

      Hofstra quickly bounced back with 5 runs of their own in the first. Nick Carr and Matt Farra started the inning with walks, which was followed by a two run double down the right field line by Lenny Rutledge. Greg Roll, Danny Sherbun, and Rich Fiore then added consecutive RBI base hits as Hofstra cut the lead to 11-5. Scopelitis had a quick 1-2-3 inning in the top of the second before the Pride added another 5 runs in the bottom of the inning. Rutledge, Roll, Sherbun, and Joe Elio had RBI singles as the Pride chased NYU starter Anthony Perez from the game.

     Scopelitis made it through the 4th before he gave way to releiver Mark Medeiros who pitched a scoreless 5th. In the bottom of the 5th, the Pride took the lead on RBI singles by Nick Carr and Rich Meoli. Hofstra held this lead as Medeiros pitched a scoreless 6th and 7th to pick up the win in a 16-14 slugfest.

     Hofstra dropped game 2 on saturday as starter Joey Comunale struggled through three. However, Hofstra would bounce back on Sunday behind the right arm of Freshman Brian Adler. Adler threw 6 strong innings allowing 5 runs (none earned). With the score tied at 5 in the 6th, Adler gave up a single to Corey Inslee before striking out centerfielder Chris Ofsthun. Nick Burch reached on an error, and with 1 out, cleanup hitter Zack Tawatari laced a single to right field. Joe Elio came up throwing and gunned out Inslee at the plate for the second out. Following the assist, Christopher Santiago ripped a ball down the line that was stabbed by third baseman Lenny Rutledge.

    The Pride bats then exploded in the bottom of the sixth. After Elio was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning, Freshman Jake Seelig lined a single to right field that got by left fielder Burch. Elio would come all the way around to score as the Pride took a 6-5 lead. Hofstra would follow with three consecutive singles to extend the lead to 9-5. With two outs, Rich Meoli reached on an error by right fielder Paul Neumaier, Danny Sherbun singled to left, Joe Elio reached on an infield single, and Jake Seelig ripped a double down the line that cleared the bases. Hofstra would plate two additional runs that inning to give them the 15-5 victory.

    With the win, Hofstra improves to 4-3 and NYU falls to 3-4. Hofstra is back in action this friday at university field for a non conference matchup with St. Josephs College of Brentwood, NY before opening up a huge conference series with University of Connecticut this weekend. First pitch of the UConn series is set for 2PM Saturday.

      Hofstra University is a member of District II of the National Club Baseball Association, along with New York University, Rider University, Cabrini College, Sacred Heart University and the University of Connecticut.