March 23, 2012
NORFOLK, VA-- The Hofstra Pride (9-10/5-2) scored six runs in the first two inningsto defeat Old Dominion (8-13/1-3), 9-5 Friday night at the Bud Metheny Baseball Complex on the "Strikeout Out Hunger" canned food drive weekend. Senior Chris Bakerknocked in four of ODU's runs with a grandslam in the bottom of the ninth inning.
Trailing 9-0 in the eighth, senior rightfielder Chris Baker (Chesapeake, VA.)doubled then scored on a double by senior designated hitter Josh Tutwiler (Bridgewater, VA.).
In the ninth inning, freshman Josh Eldridge (Lorton, VA.) led off with a double torightcenter. Brandon Shelton (Chesapeake, VA.) was then hit with a pitch and Josh Wright (Bridgewater, VA.) followed with a single to load the bases. Baker then hit his grandslam to straigh-a way centerfield to cut the lead to 9-5. For Baker, it was his fifth homerun of the season and gives him a team best 19 RBI.
Baker and Tutwiler both had two hits on the night, but the Monarchs left 13 runnerson base during the game and out hit Hofstra, 11-8.
Hofstra was led by Taylor Stuart, Kenny Jackson and Kevin Flynn, who each knocked intwo runs. Jackson doubled home two runs in the Hofstra four-run first inning whileStuart singled home two runs in the second inning. Flynn tripled home two runs forthe Pride in the eighth.
Andrew Barbarino picked up his first win of the season in relief, pitching three scoreless innings from the fifth inning to the seventh.
The two teams will play game two of the CAA series Saturday at 3 p.m. Fans who bringcan goods for the Salvation Army will be admitted into the game free.
HOF 420-000 030=9-8-1ODU 000 000 014=5-11-2
WP: Barbarino (1-1) LP: G.Tomchick (0-2)HR: ODU-Baker (5)