Hofstra, Saint John’s Set for Midweek Clash in Queens

QUEENS, N.Y. (Interstat) — The Hofstra Pride and Saint John’s Red Storm will meet in a nonconference midweek baseball game Tuesday afternoon at Jack Kaiser Stadium.

First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m. EDT under cloudy skies with a game-time temperature near 73 degrees.

The Pride (11-17) enter on a back-and-forth streak, having traded wins and losses over their last eight games. They are coming off a heartbreaking 12-11, 10-inning loss to Stony Brook on Sunday, a game in which they blew a late lead.

A bright spot in that defeat was right fielder Nick Gallello, who went 3 for 6 with two home runs and two RBIs. Gallello has shown power recently, with four extra-base hits in his last 10 games.

The Red Storm (17-18) look to get back to .500 after dropping their series finale to Georgetown 10-7 on Sunday. They had won the first two games of that set.

Saint John’s will likely look to its pitching staff to set the tone. Right-hander Ian Mowad has been effective in two of his last three starts, including a five-inning, one-run, six-strikeout performance against Georgetown last time out. On April 4 at Seton Hall, he worked six innings and allowed just three earned runs.

Hofstra’s offense, averaging 5.6 runs per game, will test a Saint John’s pitching staff with a collective 5.82 ERA. The Pride have scored 10 or more runs six times this season but have also been shut out twice.

The Red Storm counter with a more potent lineup, averaging 6.7 runs. They have scored nine or more runs in eight of their 17 victories.

This is the first of a scheduled home-and-home series between the programs this season. They are set to meet again at Hofstra on April 28.

According to Interstat’s game simulator, the projected final score is Saint John’s 6, Hofstra 5.

Following Tuesday’s contest, Hofstra will host Fairleigh Dickinson on Wednesday. Saint John’s begins a three-game Big East series at Connecticut on Friday.