Hofstra baseball lose third straight game at Columbia

The Hofstra University baseball team extended their losing streak to three in a 12-8 loss to the Columbia University Lions on Tuesday, March 19. 

The long ball killed Hofstra in this game as the Pride gave up six home runs to Columbia, four of which were hit in the first two innings. The Lions shelled Hofstra starter Penn Sealey for eight runs and ten hits on 56 pitches, chasing him after just two innings. Sealey was charged with the loss.

Columbia’s Cole Hage had himself a day at the plate on Tuesday with two home runs and a single, going 3-5 with four RBIs and a stolen base. Hage is in the midst of an incredible hitting season with an OPS of 1.179, the highest on the team.

Jack Kail was another Lion who put on a show in this match, going 4-5 with all four of his hits being extra-base knocks, including a home run to lead off the bottom of the second. Kail crossed the plate three times in the win.

Columbia went with a bullpen game approach, using five pitchers, none of whom went longer than three innings. Thomas Santana ended up with his first win of the season, pitching two innings, allowing one run but also striking out two.

Anton Lazits, Sam Miller and Owen Estabrook rounded out the home run hitters for the Lions; Estabrook’s homer ended up being the game-winner as it gave Columbia a 9-6 lead, which the bullpen was able to hold down, led by Santana and Justin Bowman.

The Pride’s issue during this game was not hitting, as they put up eight runs on 13 hits, including a four-run fourth inning. Instead, it was the Pride’s pitching giving up as many homers as it did that was their undoing.

The Pride’s offense included Dylan Palmer who extended his hitting streak by going 4-5, bringing two runners home and crossing the plate twice himself. Graduate student Santino Rosso also had two RBIs, going 3-5 with two extra-base hits.

After a disastrous first two innings for the pitching staff, Jake DesLauriers and Brian Hart stopped the bleeding to an extent, giving up only four more runs in the remaining six innings. The Pride can at least take some consolation in the fact that they were able to save much of their bullpen from use in this game.

The Pride will return to action on Wednesday, March 20, against the 5-11 Fordham Rams of the Atlantic 10 Conference. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m. at Jim Houlihan Park at Jack Coffey Field in the Bronx.

Photo courtesy of Hofstra Athletics/Matteo Bracco