Score: Hofstra 6, UAlbany 5
Location: University Field in Hempstead, New York
Records: UAlbany (0-1) | Hofstra (1-4)
Short Story: The University at Albany baseball team fell in its first game of the season, 6-5, to Hofstra University. The Great Danes took a 5-4 lead into the bottom of the ninth, but timely hitting from the Pride gave the home team a walk off win in game one of the three-game series.
Head Coach Jon Mueller: "For opening night, overall, we did a good job. The defense was solid and [Dylan] Banner was strong in his first collegiate start."
Key Stats:
- UAlbany Pitchers:
- Jason Bottari and Will Binder led the way for UAlbany with two hits each. Bottari added a stolen base, while Binder collected an RBI.
- Dan Tauken recorded a double, a run, and an RBI in his first game as a Great Dane.
- Justin Hurd and Owen Silliman, both in their collegiate baseball debuts, each notched an RBI. Hurd also recorded his first collegiate hit, a double to right field.
- Carson Dunkel went 1-4 with a run scored.
- Will Feil went 0-4 at the plate but notched two runs and a stolen base.
- Chris Fisher went 1-4 with a run scored.
How it Happened:
- Mark Faello started the game for Hofstra, Dylan Banner started on the mound for UAlbany. Banner was given the start in his first ever collegiate game.
- Jason Bottari recorded the first hit of the year for the Great Danes, a single to left field. The UAlbany stolen base king picked up right where he left off a season ago, stealing second base just a few pitches after reaching.
- UAlbany got on the board first in the second inning. Owen Silliman hit a sac fly to right field to score Dan Tauken.
- Hofstra tied the score at 1-1 in the bottom of the second when Santino Rosso singled up the middle, scoring Steve Harrington.
- The Pride tacked on another run in the bottom of the third, bringing the score to 2-1. Brian Morrell singled up the middle, scoring Kevin Bruggeman.
- Thomas Quinn entered the game for UAlbany to start the bottom of the fifth.
- UAlbany loaded the bases with no outs in the top of the sixth after a walk from Will Feil and singles from Carson Dunkel and Will Binder. Dan Tauken put the ball in play, scoring a run and reaching first after a bobble form Hofstra's shortstop. Justin Hurd gave UAlbany the lead shortly after with a sac fly to right, the scoreboard showing 3-2.
- Michael O'Hanlon entered the game for the Pride to start the top of the seventh, replacing Faello. Faello went 6.0 innings allowing two earned runs on five hits.
- Chris Fisher slid into home plate in the top of the seventh following a wild pitch, pushing the score to 4-2. Will Binder, the next batter, then single to center to score Dunkel to make it 5-2 in favor of the Great Danes.
- Michael DiMartino entered the game for UAlbany to start the seventh.
- Tristan Nemjo entered the game at the start of the eighth for the Pride.
- The momentum swung back in Hofstra's favor in the bottom of the eighth when Jake Liberatore hit a two-run shot to left center, bringing the score to 5-4.
- Owen Birkman entered for UAlbany to close the game in the bottom of the ninth.
- Hofstra's first two batters were able to get on base, each getting into scoring position on a double steal with nobody out. Hofstra's Kevin Bruggeman singled up the middle to tie the game before Harrington drove in the winning run moments later on a ball hit to first base.
Next: UAlbany is back in action tomorrow afternoon for the second game of the series against Hofstra. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. Keep up with all of the latest news, highlights, and insights on UAlbany baseball by following the team on
Twitter,
Facebook, and
Instagram and by using the hashtag #
UAUKNOW.
