TOWSON, Md. – The Towson offense pounded out seven extra-base hits and scored a season-high 15 runs in a 15-4 victory over Hofstra in the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) opener Friday afternoon at Schuerholz Park.
How It Happened- The Tigers jumped out to an early lead as Richie Palacios reached on a fielding error to start the first and took second on a throwing error on the same play. Colin Gimblet drove in Palacios with a line-drive double over the head of the left fielder.
- Hofstra (6-20, 0-3 CAA) took their only lead of the game in the third on a Ryan Karl two-run homer to right.
- Towson (10-16, 1-0 CAA) wasted little time in regaining the lead for good as they put up a five spot in the home-half of the inning. The inning again started with a fielding error before a pair of walks loaded the bases.
- A wild pitch scored the first run of the inning and another walk reloaded the bases. A.J. Gallo delivered the big blow with a bases-clearing triple to right center. Colin Dyer followed on the next pitch with a bunt single up the first-base line to score Gallo and make it 6-2.
- The fifth inning was another big inning for Towson as the Tigers used the long ball to post their second five-run inning of the game.
- Brady Policelli singled to left center and stole second. Chris Henze followed with a two-run home run to right field.
- Dyer would triple to right center and score on a Richard Miller single through the right side. Trey Martinez capped the inning with a two-run homer to left center, the first of his career.
- The Pride got two runs back in the sixth inning Mat Annunziata hit a two-run homer to right center.
- The Tigers got one of the runs back in the home-half of the inning as Policelli doubled off the fence in left center and scored on Gallo's single to right field.
- The eighth inning saw Towson add three insurance runs thanks to a Hofstra throwing error. With one out, Henze drew a walk and scored on a Gallo double to right field.
- Back-to-back walks would load the bases with two outs. A grounder to third was thrown away, allowing two more Tigers to score.
- Gallo paced the 13-hit attack by going 3-for-5 with a career-best five RBIs.
- Policelli, Dyer and Martinez each collected two hits. Henze and Martinez each drove in two runs, while Policelli scored three times.
- Not to be overshadowed, freshman right hander Skyler Morris picked up the first victory of his career. He allowed four runs on eight hits over 5.2 innings.
- Garrett Walther (1) picked up his first save of the season after allowing just two hits over 3.1 shutout innings.
- Chris Weiss (1-2) took the loss after surrendering 11 runs, nine earned, on nine hits over five innings.
- The contest marked the second-straight game the Tigers registered three doubles, two triples and two home runs.
- Towson has now won four-straight games and seven of their last eight.
On DeckThe two teams will play the middle game of the three-game series Saturday at 2 p.m. Right hander
Austin Clark will take the mound for the Tigers.