Hempstead, NY - The Hofstra Pride baseball team jumps back into conference play this weekend when it hosts the Monarchs of Old Dominion University this weekend at University Field.
Hofstra (15-19, 4-8) is coming off a 4-2 win at St. John's this past Wednesday and is 10-3 in its last 13 games. The Pride used a three-run eighth inning to erase a 2-1 deficit against the Red Storm. Robbie Cafiero drove in the tying run with a single and Kenny Jackson later delivered the game-winning two-RBI single. Andrew Barbarino threw a scoreless inning to earn the win in relief and Brett Schreiber closed the game with two scoreless frames to notch his team-leading fourth save of the year.
Hofstra is led offensively by junior catcher Matt Reistetter and Jackson, a junior outfielder. Reistetter is batting .343 with two home runs and 26 RBIs, while Jackson is hitting .311 with four home runs and 17 RBIs.
Old Dominion enters the weekend with a 17-14 record and a 7-8 mark in the Colonial Athletic Association. The Monarchs are led by Ben Verlander, who is batting .406 with 10 home runs and 25 RBIs. Connor Myers bats .294 with five double and 11 RBIs, while Josh Eldridge has a .266 average, five doubles, four triples and 23 RBIs.
The series begins Friday afternoon at 3 p.m. with a pitching matchup of David D'Errico and Dean Ali. D'Errico is 2-1 on the year with a 5.06 ERA. He is coming off a 7 1/3 inning performance at Northeastern in his last start where he allowed six hits and two runs in a 9-2 win. Ali is 2-2 with a 2.29 ERA in eight starts and has held opponents to a .196 average.
Saturday's 1 p.m. matchup pits Joe Burg against Andy Roberts in a battle of left-handers. Burg has been Hofstra's top pitcher with a 3-3 record and a 4.11 ERA, while Roberts is 2-2 with a 2.82 ERA for the Monarchs.
Hofstra has not announced a starting pitcher for Sunday's finale, but Old Dominion is slated to throw lefty Ryan Yarbrough, who owns a 1-3 record and a 4.74 ERA.
Old Dominion leads the all-time series between the schools, 17-11, but Hofstra is 4-2 in the last six meetings.
Friday and Saturday's game can be heard via the PRIDE ZONE and live statistics will be available for all three contests.
