HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. – In a rematch between two sides that met on March 9, Manhattan fell to Hofstra 3-1 on Friday at University Field. After beating the Pride in the first meeting, the Jaspers were held to six hits in the loss.
Hofstra got on the board first with a solo homer from Steve Harrington in the fourth inning before Manhattan would respond with a run in the seventh inning to tie the game. The Manhattan rally started with a walk from Jack Lynch to lead off the frame. Then, two outs later, Lynch advanced to second on a wild pitch before Dylan Ocasal worked a walk. After both runners moved up a bag following a balk from Hofstra pitcher Mark Faello, Lynch came around to score on a passed ball to knot the score at one apiece.
With the score still tied in the eighth inning, David Bermudez was thrown out at the plate for the third out when trying to score off a single from Lynch. The Pride tacked on the go-ahead runs in the bottom of the inning when Kevin Bruggeman delivered a two-run home run following a lead-off walk by Jake Liberatore.
Lynch and Frankie Marinelli led the Manhattan offense with two hits apiece. Justin Solimine took the loss for the Jaspers after walking Liberatore to open the eighth before Bruggeman homered off Ryan Crehan. Will Hesslink started for Manhattan and allowed one run on eight hits to go along with six strikeouts.
Bruggeman finished with three hits and two runs batted in to pace the Pride. Aljo Sujak earned the win in 1.1 innings of scoreless relief, and Mike McKenna registered the save.
The Jaspers return to action on Sunday, March 20, when they face Merrimack at University Field. The first pitch is slated for 2 p.m.
