By Victoria Mickens -- STAFF WRITER
The Hofstra baseball team shut down the Cougars of the College of Charleston on Sunday, April 17, as the Pride posted its fourth home victory.
On this sunny warm afternoon, with the stands packed with fans, the Pride swept the Cougars with an 8-7 win, bringing its overall record to 12-24 and 4-7 in Colonial Athletic Association play.
The sweep was an upset of sorts against a Charleston team who was 5-1 coming into the weekend.
In the fourth inning, Charleston was ahead by one after a batter was hit by a pitch followed by an infield single and a bunt.
But Hofstra was quick to take the lead that it would keep for the rest of the game thanks to three runs in the bottom of the fourth.
Junior infielder Brad Witkowski and freshman catcher Vito Friscia were both walked and third baseman David Leiderman joined the party and hit a triple, bringing the lead to 2-1.
Nick Bottari increased the lead to 3-1 when he hit a single into left field.
The Cougars managed to meet the Pride at 3-3 in the top of the sixth. Hofstra’s senior starting pitcher Bowie Matteson was relieved by sophomore Teddy Cillis.
In the bottom of the seventh, the crowd erupted in cheers as the Pride posted a five-run inning.
Freshman Tom Archer hit a one out infield single which was followed by a left field single by sophomore Steven Foster. Mat Annunziata sent the ball through the right side and loaded the bases.
Witkowski singled, knocking in two runs and brought the score to 5-3.
Charleston changed pitchers, but the damage was done after Leiderman stole third and found his way home with some aggressive baserunning.
Andrew Mundy relieved Cillis in the top of the ninth but gave up a grand slam. But, Mundy then closed the game out with two groundouts.
David Leiderman, who finished the game 2-for-4 with 4 RBIs, totaled six hits in the series and six runs batted in.
Brad Witkowski and Chris Hardardt picked up two hits each.
This is Hofstra’s first conference sweep in over three years, dating back to the March 29-31 series against George Mason in 2013.
They return to action Wednesday on the road against LIU Brooklyn at 3 p.m.