By PJ Potter -- STAFF WRITER Hofstra’s 12 runs was enough to end their four-game skid to come out on top over LIU Post, 12-9.
The Pride headed into the eighth inning with a commanding 11-1 lead over LIU, but the Pioneers were not ready to wave the white flag just yet. LIU posted four runs in the eighth and a total of eight runs in the final two innings of the game.
Once Chris Bonk (3-5) was taken out for Hofstra, LIU took advantage of reliever Patrick Bryant, who allowed four runs on four hits while recording just one out over that span. Kevin Weissheier completed the inning while giving up one hit. Bonk threw seven innings and struck out a career best nine batters on one run, six hits, and no walks.
Rich Maccarone started the hit parade for the Pioneers with an RBI double to right center in the top of the eighth, finishing 3-for-4 in the game. Vinny Iacono and David Groeneveld knocked in a runner each on fly balls to left field. Lou Doria brought in Anthony Brunetti to score on a fielder’s choice.
Mat Annunziata answered in the bottom half of the inning with a solo home run to push the lead to 12-5. He went 2-for-5 with two extra base hits and two runs.
LIU fought back in the 9th to score four more runs. Matt Weissheier replaced his brother and surrendered a 2-run triple to Kenny Daley, who would later score on a sacrifice fly hit by Iacono. Daley finished the game with three hits and three runs batted in.
Weissheier was unable to record an out for Hofstra, so Adam Seibert and Chris Weiss closed out the game before LIU could overcome their once ten run deficit.
Anthony Brunetti, who also had three hits for the Pioneers, hit his 2nd home run of 2015 on a solo shot to make the score 12-9.
Jake DeCarli started for LIU, but was replaced by James Long after tossing three innings without allowing a hit. Long received the loss (1-6) after pitching three outs. He gave up four runs on four hits and one walk. Connor McCarthy, Dillon Burke, and Vinny Ruggiero altogether let up eight runs in four innings of relief.
The Pride swung for ten hits, but managed to score 12. Three of those runs came off the bat of Brian MacDonald in the fourth when he muscled his third home run this year over the left field fence.
Brad Witkowski and Jake Fallon each scored three times for the Pride. Witkowski compiled two hits and Fallon drove in two runners.
Chris Weiss improved his batting average to .290 by going 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI batting 7th in the lineup. Dalton Rouleau, Chris Hardardt, and Lou Carrafiello each had one run batted in.
Hofstra (16-26) will host Elon in their final home stand in a three-game series beginning on Friday at 3:00 p.m.