WEST HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. – Designated hitter Chris Henze went 4-for-4 and centerfielder Richie Blosser drove in a career-high five runs in leading the Tigers to a 13-8 victory over Hofstra in the CAA series opener Friday afternoon.
 
After Hofstra took a 2-0 lead after the first inning, the Tigers tied the game in the second inning as Blosser delivered a sacrifice fly and John Drexel drove in a run with a single to center field.
 
The Pride (10-18, 2-8 CAA) regained the lead in the home-half of the inning on a Mat Annunziata home run to right field.
 
That would be the last time the Tigers (8-22-1, 3-7 CAA) would trail in the game.  Peter Bowles started a two-out rally with a base hit, and Brady Policelli followed with a single through the left side.  After Henze was hit by a pitch, Blosser drove in two runs with a single to right field.
 
Mark Grunberg added to the lead in the fifth with a solo home run to right field, the first of his career.  Four batters later, Henze drove in a run with a single through the right side, and Blosser followed with a run-scoring single to left field.
 
The Tigers broke the game open in the eighth inning by scoring five runs.  Henze came through with the big hit with a two-run double to left field.
 
Bruce Zimmermann (3-2) was very effective out of the bullpen in the victory.  The lefty struck out five over the final five innings.  He allowed just one run through the first four innings of work before running into trouble in the ninth.
 
Chris Bonk (2-5) took the loss after giving up three runs on four hits over two innings.
 
Eight Tigers recorded a hit in the game, with Henze leading the way with four.  Grunberg added three hits, while driving in two runs and scoring a pair.  Bowles, Policelli and Blosser each added two hits as the Tigers scored 13 runs on 16 hits for the second-straight game.
 
The two teams play the middle game of the three-game series Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m.