Recap | Box Scores
Tallahassee, FL -- Hofstra built an early two-run lead over nationally ranked Florida State, but the Pride couldn't stave off a surging Seminoles offense in a 9-3 Opening Day loss in front of 5,601 fans at Dick Howser Stadium.
Senior rightfielder Mark Stuckless (Kanata, Ontario) provided a spark atop Hofstra's lineup, going 3-5 with a run scored and a RBI. Junior third baseman Matt Prokopowicz (Massapequa, NY) also added a RBI single against a Seminoles team that qualified for the 2008 College World Series and entered the game ranked sixth by the Collegiate Baseball Writers Association.
The Pride still fell to 0-1 while Florida State's Mike McGee registered three RBIs in a 3-4 showing from the third spot, improving the Seminoles to 1-0.
The Seminoles erased a two-run deficit by showing patience at the plate in a four-run fourth inning that gave the visitors a 6-3 lead it would not relinquish. The eighth and ninth hitters got on with a walk and hit-by-pitch, respectively, before a bunt single loaded the bases with no outs.
Starting pitcher Brody Fontaine (Amenia, NY) induced a pop out before Mike McGee flicked a two-run single to the left side. The southpaw responded by recording a big strikeout and nearly escaped further trouble when Tommy Oravetz grounded to short. But Chris Mentrasti couldn't field a tough hop for a single, though Tyler Holt raced around second and slid home safely on a throwing error for Florida State's third run.
That play chased Fontaine after 3 2/3 innings. Kevin Rigopoulos entered in relief and walked the first two batters, including issuing D'Vontrey Richardson a bases-loaded free pass that capped the four-run rally before getting out of the jam without further damage. Fontaine (0-1) struck out two batters and surrendered seven hits.
Hofstra jumped out to a two-run advantage, tagging Seminoles starter Geoff Parker (1-0) for three runs off four singles in the second spurred by three straight one-out singles.
Stuckless added a RBI single that fell just in front of the centerfielder, marking Hofstra's first RBI of the season. After a strikeout, Prokopowicz ripped a run-scoring single to left that plated John Kenny for a 3-1 lead, bringing Parker's pitch count to 52 after two innings. The right-handed hurler settled down shortly after, going five innings while allowing six hits to pick up the win.
The Pride came just a few feet away from starting the new campaign with a homer. Stuckless drove the first pitch into the top of the high right-centerfield wall for a season-opening double. Hofstra moved Stuckless to third on a groundout and brought him home on a strikeout thanks to Parker's two-out wild pitch that allowed Stuckless to cross the plate and Mentrasti to advance to first for Hofstra's first run of 2009.
Florida State answered right back in the home half of the first, scoring an unearned run off Fontaine via Jason Stidham's sacrifice fly to shallow centerfield. Panzarella's throw home was in time but a tough bounce over the catcher allowed Oravetz to slide in safely for the tying run.
Patrick Anderson made his head coaching debut for the Pride while Florida State's Mike Martin entered his 30th year with the Seminoles.
Hofstra's last Opening Day victory came against Delaware State in 2002 and the school is 22-31 all-time in first games for which statistical data is available. The Pride will get three more chances at the four-time ACC champions, starting with a doubleheader Saturday. Game time for the twinbill's opener is set for 1 p.m.
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