By Joe Pantorno, Assistant Sports Editor
The Hofstra Pride baseball team entered its two game midweek series desperate to improve on their 10-20 record. The Pride was given two difficult opponents in the form of Army and Stony Brook University.
Hofstra jumped out early against Army on April 20, scoring five runs in the first inning. Up 6-1, junior pitcher Kevin Rigopoulos gave up the lead in the top of the fifth as Army took a very brief 7-6 lead.
With the score tied 8-8 in the bottom of the seventh, senior Elliot Hagburg smacked a pinch-hit home run over the left field wall. This choice of pinch hitter really pleased head coach Patrick Anderson. "It made me feel like a million bucks because he's a senior and he stepped up," said Anderson. Hofstra added to its lead making the score 11-8.
With Army scoring a run in the eighth, the top of the ninth saw a real pressure cooker as Hofstra's bullpen tried to finish off the Black Knights. Freshman reliever John Krause hit the first batter he faced and proceeded to walk the next two batters, loading the bases with no outs. That was all Anderson would see, pulling Krause and bringing in freshman Joe Burg.
Burg went right after the Black Knights batters getting a pop out to first base for out number one, a strike out for out number two and a soft liner to shortstop sealed Hofstra's eleventh win of the season. Burgs effort on the mound was another positive note for Anderson, "He's a 4.0 student and a workaholic," said Anderson. "He deserves what he's gotten."
There was no time to enjoy the victory as the Pride needed to get ready for a showdown with Stony Brook the next day. The bats stayed hot as senior outfielders John Kenny and Ethan Paquette went 4-5. Hofstra, which was down 4-6 at one point, scored seven runs combined in the fifth and sixth inning. With an 11-7 lead, the bullpen almost lost the lead
The Pride improves to 12-20 on the season as things are starting to settle down. "The guys are feeling aggressive and more comfortable at the plate," said Anderson. "Hopefully we can carry that into the weekend series."