Hempstead, NY - The Hofstra Baseball team closes out the regular season with a three-game series against CAA-leading UNCW this Friday and Saturday at University Field. The teams will play a doubleheader Friday beginning at Noon and then a single game Saturday, also at Noon.
The Pride no longer control their own destiny for a CAA Championship berth and need to win at least two games and get help from either Delaware or Towson. Hofstra needs a Delaware sweep of James Madison. If the Dukes win just one game in their series, Hofstra would need a sweep in order to qualify. If James Madison wins two games, Hofstra cannot pass the Dukes in the standings. The Pride could also qualify with a sweep of UNCW and a Towson sweep of Northeastern. The playoff picture will be clearer when game one begins Friday as the other two series begin Thursday.
The Pride enters the final weekend with a record of 24-26, 9-15 in the CAA. The team is coming off a 1-2 weekend at Georgia State. Hofstra lost the opening game, 10-3, after Georgia State broke open a one-run game with six in the eighth. The Pride responded with a late rally of their own in game two, scoring four times in the seventh to post a 12-9 victory. Kevin Brantley knocked in the go-ahead run with a double and John Tiedemann picked up the win with three innings of scoreless relief. Georgia State took the series with a 6-3 win in game three.
Catcher Matt Reistetter continues to lead the Pride in batting with a .341 average, while designated hitter/outfielder Chris Nardo is batting .310 on the year. Kenny Jackson has a team-best eight home runs and has added 21 steals. Jared Hammer leads the club with 36 RBIs with Reistetter right behind him with 34. Austin Nyman has posted a team-best 23 steals.
As a team Hofstra is fourth in the nation in stolen bases with 126 and six players are in double-digits led by Nyman and Jackson. Brantley could become the third player with at least 20 swipes on the year as he enters the weekend with 18.
The Seahawks are 36-17, 17-6 in the CAA and have clinched one of the top two seeds in next weeks CAA Championship. The Seahawks can clinch the top seed with a win or a William & Mary loss. Michael Bass leads the team with a .389 average, 19 doubles, 54 runs and 24 steals. He has also added four home runs and 33 RBIs Ryan LaGrange is batting .373 with four home runs and 34 RBIs. Luke Dunlap has a .354 average, 14 doubles and a team-best 39 RBIs. Corey Dick and Tyler Molinaro lead the team with seven home runs each. On the mound, Mat Batts has a 9-2 mark and a 2.82 ERA with 95 strikeouts. Jordan Ramsey is 6-5 with a 1.96 ERA and 70 strikeouts and Christian MacDonald has turned in a 4-1 record with a 3.75 ERA. Kelly Secrest is 3-1 with seven saves out of the bullpen.
Pitching matchups for the weekend will be as follows:
Friday Game One: Nick Kozlowski (3-0, 4.42) vs. Mat Batts (9-2, 2.82)
Friday Game Two: Bryan Verbitsky (1-4, 2.84) vs. Jordan Ramsey (6-5, 1.96)
Saturday: Joe Burg (3-4, 5.31) vs. Christian MacDonald (4-1, 3.75)
The weekend also marks the final home games of 12 Hofstra seniors – Andrew Barbarino, Joe Burg, Jared Hammer, John Krause, Gregg Lettini, Chris Nardo, Austin Nyman, Joe Perez, Jared Rogers, Gregg Sarra, Taylor Stuart and John Tiedemann. The group will be recognized at a pregame ceremony on Saturday, starting at 11:40 a.m.
