Baseball leaves series against New Mexico split

The Hofstra University baseball team lost the last game of a four-game series against the University of New Mexico Lobos, 9-6, splitting the series in New Mexico.

The Pride’s offense struggled to produce runs in the game even though they had 11 hits. Dylan Palmer continued to swing a hot bat with a team-leading three hits on the day. His average also leads the team at .548. Steve Harrington and Will Kennedy followed with two hits and one RBI each.

Hofstra sent out Penn Sealey for his first start of the season where he maintained his composure well into the game. In the second inning, a two-run home run from New Mexico’s Jake Holland put the Lobos on the board first, 2-0. Hofstra answered in the fourth inning, tying the game on a ground out and wild pitch, 2-2. However, Sealey’s day finished with four strikeouts in 3.0 innings pitched, allowing two runs off five hits.

In the bottom of the fourth, Matt Haggerty came in to relieve Sealey, and New Mexico opened the game up from there. The Lobos unraveled five runs with Tye Wood launching a grand slam over the left field fence 7-2, killing any momentum Hofstra had in the game.

Haggerty struggled out of the bullpen, giving up seven runs on six hits with only two strikeouts. His 2.0 innings pitched nailed the loss to his name.

The Pride remained defenseless against New Mexico’s pitching. Daxton Purser started the game, but Dayne Pengelly dominated with five strikeouts in 4.1 innings on the mound. Pengelly received the win.

The Lobos scored two runs on ground outs in the later innings, capping the score to 9. The Pride remained close enough to try and claw their way back with Matt Pelcher's double in the seventh inning and a Santino Rosso RBI single in the eighth putting the game as close as 9-6. But New Mexico closed out the rest with Brian McBroom on the mound, securing his second save of the season.

Hofstra now stands at an overall record of 4-6 as they continue their non-conference play heading into March. The Pride will make their way back to New York, though it will not be for their first home contest, as Hofstra will play in a three-game series in Queens against the St. John’s University Red Storm. The Red Storm hold a 4-4 record so far in the season.

 The first game is set for 3 p.m. on Friday, March 8, at the Jack Kaiser Stadium.

Photo courtesy of Tim March