Hempstead, NY - The Hofstra Baseball team travels to Atlanta, Georgia, this weekend for a critical Colonial Athletic Association series against Georgia State. Hofstra is currently on the outside looking in for the final spot in the CAA Championship, a game behind James Madison in the loss column.

The Pride (23-24, 8-11) will also be looking to get back to the .500 mark and snap a three-game losing streak. The Pride is coming off a sweep at the hands of William & Mary last weekend. The Pride was held to one run by the Tribe pitching staff, getting outscored 26-1.

Senior Jared Hammer did collect his 200th career hit in the series, becoming just the sixth player in program to reach that mark. He currently trails Jeff Vallillo (1992-95) by six hits for fifth place on the Pride's all-time hits list. 

Junior catcher Matt Reistetter continues to enjoy his finest season to date as he leads the team with a .353 average to go along with two home runs and 34 RBIs.

The series begins Friday at 6 p.m. with a pitching matchup of Bryan Verbitsky (2-3, 2.23) taking on the Panthers' Matt Rose (1-2, 1.21) in a battle of converted relievers making their second starts of the year. Verbitsky allowed three runs in 5 1/3 innings in a 3-0 loss to William & Mary last Friday in his first start, while Rose had a spot start on April 16 at Kennesaw State. Rose had been serving as the GSU closer, picking up five saves, as well as a starter at either corner infield spot.

Saturday's 1 p.m. first pitch will see Joe Burg (3-4, 4.74) face fellow left-hander Garret Ford (4-3, 5.08). The series concludes with Sunday's 1 p.m. game that will match up David D'Errico (3-3, 4.99) and Andrew Fessler (5-1, 2.49).

Georgia State is 32-18 on the year and 11-8 in the CAA, but is ineligible for the postseason tournament due to the school leaving the CAA for the Sun Belt Conference. The Panthers are the top hitting squad in the CAA with a .322 team average, 392 runs, 121 doubles and 36 home runs. Junior Chad Prain leads the team with a .407 average, ranking second in the league behind Delaware's Jimmy Yezzo.

Georgia State holds an 11-7 advantage in the all-time series with the Pride. Hofstra swept the Panthers in Hempstead last season, but is 3-9 all-time in Atlanta. 

The Pride will return home following the series to play their final regular season series against UNCW on Friday and Saturday.