The Northeastern baseball team (25-9, 10-2 CAA) swept the Hofstra University Pride (12-24, 3-9 CAA) in a weekend series held April 11 to 13.
In game one of the series against the Pride, the Huskies allowed Hofstra to score first on a double and RBI single in the second inning.
After a slow start in the fourth, the Huskies came back with three hits by junior center outfielder Cam Maldonado, redshirt junior left outfielder Harrison Feinberg and junior shortstop Jack Goodman. Goodman belted a line-drive home run to left field, clearing the bases and giving Northeastern a 3-1 lead.
In the bottom of the eighth, sophomore right outfielder Ryan Gerety led off with a triple, sprinting around the bases to get into scoring position. Maldonado walked and stole second, setting up Feinberg with two players on base. Feinberg hit a double into the outfield, just inches away from another homer, increasing the lead to 5-1. Feinberg stole third, and another Goodman RBI single batted him in for the 6-1 final score.
Graduate student left-handed pitcher Will Jones started the game for Northeastern, pitching six innings and allowing just one run in the second on four hits. He issued no walks and struck out seven batters before turning it over to the bullpen in the seventh. His ERA now sits at an impressive 2.62 after his sixth win of the season.
Junior right-handed pitcher Charlie Walker had some pressure in his first inning pitching in the game’s seventh but found his way out of it on a fly out double play. Then, he was smooth sailing through the final two innings, which were pitched perfectly. This was Walker’s fourth save of the season.
The Northeastern pitching staff recorded its seventh no-walk game of the season, ranking first in Division I baseball for the fewest walks allowed per nine innings.
The Huskies secured the series victory in the second game of the April 11 doubleheader, winning the contest 9-0.
Senior infielder Jack Doyle led off the game by reaching second on a throwing error by junior left-handed pitcher Jackson Bauer. Feinberg’s home run to left field scored two runs, putting Northeastern up 2-0 in the bottom of the first inning. The second homer of the inning by junior catcher Matt Brinker brought in two more runs, 4-0.
The game was scoreless through the second, third and fourth innings.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, junior infielder Carmelo Musacchia singled and advanced to second off a sacrifice bunt. A single by Doyle brought Musacchia home, 5-0. Feinberg was walked, giving the Huskies two base runners. Goodman’s three-run shot made the score 8-0.
Junior right-handed pitcher Aiven Cabral went six innings, issuing six strikeouts — including striking out the side in the top of the second inning — allowing six hits and zero runs. Cabral was replaced by senior right-handed pitcher Brett Dunham in the top of the seventh inning.
The Huskies finished the weekend sweep with a 4-0 win April 13.
Both teams were held at a stalemate in the first and second innings. Brinker broke the ice as he homered to left center field to score the first run of the game in the bottom of the third inning, 1-0.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, Maldonado singled, and Feinberg walked to put two on for the Huskies. Musacchia singled through the left side to bring in Maldonado, 2-0. Feinberg scored on a wild pitch to put his team up 3-0, and Musacchia advanced to third base. Musacchia was brought in off a sacrifice foul out, 4-0.
Graduate student left-handed pitcher Jordan Gottesman started on the mound for Northeastern. Gottesman, logging nine strikeouts and allowing six hits over seven innings. Senior left-handed pitcher Jack Bowery pitched in relief of Gottesman, securing the 4-0 shutout.
The Huskies will take on the Kansas State University Wildcats (23-12, 10-5 Big 12) April 15 and 16 at home.
