Elliot Rubin – STAFF WRITER The Hofstra Pride continued their opening weekend struggle, as they lost their second consecutive game to Texas A&M, 15-4, on Saturday. Despite the fact that Hofstra scored three runs in the second inning, this was not a game in which the Pride had a much of a chance down in Texas.
The Aggies created an early 1-0 lead, following a RBI single by first baseman Hunter Melton in the first.
The Pride answered back an inning later with a solo homer by first baseman Ryan Karl, tying the game at 1-1. Shortstop Brad Witkowski added a two-run single later in the frame, giving the Pride a 3-1 lead.
After Hofstra’s big second inning, they didn’t score again until the eighth.
A&M scored the next 11 runs unanswered. In fact, the Aggies scored in five of their eight offensive innings, putting up four runs in the third, six in the fifth and three runs in seventh inning.
After Hofstra’s strong start, they did not not score again until Brad Witkowski wacked a RBI double in the eighth.
Pride starter Chris Weiss (0-1) had a difficult outing, allowing five earned runs, six hits and he did not strike out a batter in three innings of work.
The first man out of the bullpen, Adam Heidenfelder, did not fare much better as he allowed seven earned runs, while walking two, striking out over three innings. Jake Bufo came on in the seventh and he allowed two runs and one hit.
The final reliever of the day for Hofstra, Andrew Mundy, pitched the final 1.2 innings for the Pride, allowing three hits and a run.
For A&M, Corbin Martin started the game and pitched five innings. He allowed three runs, four walks and struck out nine.
Aggies reliever Jace Vines pitched two perfect innings, while striking out two batters. Cason Sherrod came in in the eighth, and he allowed a run and two hits, in addition to striking out two. Kaylor Chafin came on to secure the final three outs for the Aggies in a perfect inning.
Offensively, Brad Witkowski led the Pride, going 2-for-4 with three RBI and a double. Ryan Karl went 2-for-4 with a homer. Teddy Cillis went 2-for-4 with a run scored. Hofstra had seven hits in the game.
For the Aggies, Hunter Melton led the way with six RBIs included of a 5-for-5 day. He also crossed the plate four times and homered twice.
Other contributors included designated hitter Ronnie Gideon, who hit a grand slam. Eight of the nine starters for A&M had either a hit or an RBI (six players had both). A&M collected 15 hits, though only three players had multi-hit games.
While the teams left similar numbers of players on base (nine for A&M and eight for Hofstra), the difference between the two teams is how they managed clutch situations.
With two outs, Hofstra hit .182 (7-33) while A & M hit .462 (6–13). The numbers remain relatively the same with runners in scoring position. Also, the Pride hit .212 (7-33) overall, while the Aggies hit nearly two hundred points higher, .410 (16–39).
Hofstra finishes their three-game series against Texas A&M tomorrow on Feb. 21 at 1 p.m.