HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. ? Junior third baseman Steve Yarsinsky hit two home runs and drove in a career high six runs as the Tigers (23-20, 8-8) blasted seven home runs en route to a 17-8 victory over Hofstra University (6-29, 2-17) in the opening game of their Colonial Athletic Association weekend series at University Field on Friday afternoon.

The second game of the series will be played on Saturday at 1:15 p.m. due to late afternoon weather concerns.

With the victory, the Tigers have won five of their last six games.

One of five Tigers with three base hits, Yarsinsky led the Tigers' 20-hit attack with a solo home run in the first inning and a three-run homer in the second inning.

The Tigers, who have now hit 77 home runs in 43 games, belted six homers in the first three innings as they built an 11-7 lead.

“It wasn't a pretty win but we'll take it,” said Towson Coach Mike Gottlieb. “With the way the home runs were flying out of the ballpark in the first few innings, I thought both teams might score more than 20 runs. Fortunately, things calmed down after the third inning.”

Sophomore designated hitter Austin Harclerode also hit a pair of homers while sophomore second baseman Chris Wychock, senior catcher Jason Stifler and junior centerfielder Kevin Collins each hit one homer. Towson was 15^th in NCAA Division I in home runs last week.

The Tigers' seven home runs were one shy of the school record of eight, set in 1991 when Towson beat Delaware, 25-5.

In the top of the first inning, the Tigers flexed their muscles by hitting three homers to take a 4-0 lead. With two outs and nobody on base, Yarsinsky gave Towson a 1-0 lead when he blasted his fifth home run of the season down the left field line. After a single by senior first baseman Matt Collins, Harclerode launched a two-run homer over the centerfield fence, upping the lead to 3-0. When sophomore second baseman Chris Wychock followed with his 12^th home run of the year, Towson owned a 4-0 advantage.

It didn't take very long for Hofstra to come back and tie the game. Senior rightfielder Mark Stuckless led off the first inning with an infield hit and moved to third base on a double by senior second baseman Tom Legregni. After freshman righthander Tyler Austin struck out junior centerfielder John Kenny, he loaded the bases by hitting junior third baseman Matt Prokopowicz with a pitch. Moments later, senior shortstop Chris Mentrasti blasted a grand slam home run over the left centerfield fence, tying the game at 4-4.

In the top of the second inning, the Tigers scored four more runs to grab an 8-4 advantage. Freshman rightfielder Ben Winter led off with a walk and senior shortstop Gary Helmick singled down the left field line. After relief pitcher Nick Panzarella struck out Kevin Collins, Yarsinsky gave the Tigers a 7-4 lead when he belted a three-run homer over the left field fence. It was his sixth homer of the season. One batter later, Harclerode blasted his second home run of the game, giving Towson an 8-4 advantage.

For the second inning in a row, Hofstra responded. Junior catcher Elliot Hagburg led off the inning with a double down the leftfield line. Hagburg advanced to third on a fly ball by senior first baseman Adam Perlo and then he scored on a sacrifice fly by Stuckless, cutting the deficit to 8-5. After Legregni drew a walk, Kenny clouted his second home run of the season over the leftfield fence, pulling Hofstra to within 8-7.

In the top of the third, senior leftfielder Aaron Gabrielian led off with a single. Then, senior catcher Jason Stifler gave the Tigers a 10-7 lead when he belted a two-run homer to left field. With one out, Helmick reached base on an infield single. He advanced to third base when Kevin Collins doubled. Helmick upped the Tigers' lead to 11-7 by scoring on a ground ball to first base by Yarsinsky. Matt Collins ended the inning when he flew out to centerfield.

After allowing seven runs on five hits in the first two innings, Austin settled down and shut out the Pride in the third and fourth innings.

The Tigers increased their lead to 12-7 in the fifth inning. Winter led off the inning with a double to leftfield. After Helmick drew a walk, Kevin Collins hit into a double play as Perlo made a great play at first base. But Yarsinsky's third hit of the game, an RBI single to left, drove in Winter for a 12-7 advantage.

In the middle of the fifth inning, the game was delayed for 50 minutes due to rain. When play resumed, Austin retired the Pride without a run in the bottom of the fifth inning.

Austin, who earned his third win of the season, overcame a rugged start to pick up the win. In five innings of work, he allowed seven runs on six hits with four walks and seven strikeouts.

Junior righthander Zach Umberger came on to pitch the sixth inning for the Tigers and gave up a run. With one out, Perlo doubled to left center. While Stuckless was drawing a walk, Perlo moved to third base on a wild pitch. When Stuckless and Perlo pulled off a double steal, the Pride had cut its deficit to 12-8.

In the seventh inning, the Tigers tried to put the game out of reach by scoring four runs. Winter led off the inning with a double down the rightfield line. After an infield single by Helmick, Kevin Collins crushed a three-run home run over the scoreboard in rightfield, upping the lead to 15-8. It was his 12^th home run of the season.

The Tigers went on to score another run with two outs when Harclerode drew a walk, went to second base on a wild pitch and came around to score when Prokopowicz made an error on a ground ball by Wychock.

The Tigers added another unearned run in the eighth inning. After Winter led off with a bloop double, his third double of the game. With two outs, Kevin Collins struck out on a pitch in the dirt. When Hagberg tried to throw him out at first base, his throw was wild, allowing Winter to score his fourth run of the game, giving Towson a 17-8 lead.

With Umberger and freshman lefthander Andrew Newfield providing solid relief, the Tigers held on to win. Umberger pitched three innings and allowed one run on three hits with one walk and five strikeouts while Newfield threw a scoreless ninth inning.

Helmick, who raised his batting average to .425, had three hits and scored three runs for the Tigers. Kevin Collins also had three hits and three runs batted in while Yarsinsky was 3-for-6 with six RBI's. Harclerode was 3-for-5 with three RBI's. In addition, Winter extended his hitting streak to ten games by going 3-for-4 with four runs scored.

Stuckless led Hofstra by going two-for-three.

The Tigers return to action on Saturday afternoon when they face Hofstra in the second game of their three-game series at University Field at 1:15 p.m.