HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. – The Towson University baseball team faced Hofstra in the first two games of a three-game Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) series on Saturday afternoon at University Field in Hempstead, N.Y.
 
In game one, Hofstra (15-34, 5-17 CAA) scored seven runs in the first inning to build an early lead. Brett Ahalt plated two for Towson (19-32, 9-13 CAA) in the fourth before the Pride scored four unanswered over the next three innings. The Tigers cut the deficit to four in the seventh, highlighted by Brian Heckelman's grand slam. Hofstra added their 12^th run of the day in the eighth and recorded the final three outs in the top of the ninth for the 12-7 win in game one.
 
Key Stats – Game One

• Towson starter Andrew Luczak (4-5) took the loss, allowing five earned runs on two hits without recording an out. Luczak hit two batters and walked one.
• Hofstra starter Tristan Nemjo (2-6) earned the win, allowing three earned runs on five hits in 6.1 innings. Nemjo struck out eight and walked three.

 
How it Happened – Game One

• Hofstra took the lead in the bottom of the first with seven runs on four hits and four free bases.
• After two scoreless innings, Nich Francuzenko and Brian Heckelman led off the fourth inning with back-to-back singles. After a balk advanced the runners, Brett Ahalt's RBI single to center field plated both.
• In the home half, Jenks' RBI fielder's choice extended the Pride's lead to 8-2.
• Hofstra added two runs on two hits in the bottom of the fifth inning, scoring on a bases-loaded walk and Craig's sacrifice fly to follow.
• Palmer's infield single in the next inning pushed the Pride's lead to nine.
• The Tigers answered in the seventh, scoring five runs on two hits. Heckelman's grand slam made it an 11-7 game.
• Hofstra added one run in the eighth on Brown's single to center field.
• Two one out walks put base runners on for the Tigers, but two fielder's choice outs at second base gave the Pride the 12-7 win in game one of the doubleheader.

 
In game two, Castrataro of Hofstra (16-34, 6-17 CAA) put the Pride up 2-0 in the first inning on a home run. Hofstra scored a run three times over the next four innings. Towson (19-33, 9-14 CAA) scored in the third on Brian Heckelman's single to center. Brett Ahalt plated two in the seventh to make it a two-run deficit. The Tigers left one base runner stranded over the final two innings to fall 5-3.
 
Key Stats – Game Two

• Towson starter Max Simpson (2-9) took the loss, allowing five runs, three earned, on six hits in 4.2 innings pitched. Simpson struck out four and walked one.
• Hofstra starter Sean Hamilton (1-4) recorded the win, allowing three earned runs on eight hits in 6.1 innings pitched. Hamilton struck out seven and walked two.

 
How it Happened – Game Two

• Castrataro's home run for the Pride in the bottom of the first inning put them out in front 2-0.
• Gallelo's sacrifice fly to center field in the next inning extended Hofstra's lead to three.
• Casey Bishop and Jordan Peyton started the third inning with back-to-back singles. Brian Heckelman singled two batters later, scoring Bishop from second.
• Dylan Palmer lead off the bottom half with a home run to right field, giving the Pride a 4-1 lead.
• Palmer hit a two-out single to left and advanced to third on a failed pickoff attempt. Palmer scored on a subsequent passed ball to extend Hofstra's lead to four.
• With the bases loaded in the seventh inning, Brett Ahalt singled to right field to make it a 5-3 game.
• Three of four batters faced in the ninth went down to give the Pride a 5-3 win.

 
On Deck:
The Tigers and Pride conclude their series tomorrow at noon at University Field.