SOUTH HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. (Interstat) — Nicholas Reese pitched five shutout innings and Hofstra erupted for four runs in the fourth inning to defeat Towson 8-0 on Sunday afternoon at University Field.

Reese scattered three hits, struck out two and did not allow an earned run to improve to 4-3 on the season. The senior right-hander worked around a first-inning double by Towson left fielder Brady Nathison, who advanced to third on a bunt and a throwing error but was stranded when the Tigers grounded into a double play to end the inning.

Hofstra grabbed a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first against Towson starter Liam Diehl. Michael Brown singled, CJ Griggs singled and Luke Cox walked to load the bases with no outs. Nick Gallello reached on a fielder’s choice that scored Brown. Gabriel Melara grounded out to shortstop to bring home Griggs, and Michael Craig reached on a throwing error by second baseman Sean Kolb that allowed Cox to score, unearned. Nick Biddle singled but the Pride left two runners on.

Diehl settled in during the second and third innings, retiring six of seven batters he faced, but ran into trouble again in the third. Melara singled and Craig walked. Biddle delivered an RBI single through the left side, scoring Melara to make it 4-0. Diehl finished with three innings, allowing five earned runs on three hits with three strikeouts and two walks.

Towson managed only three hits in the game. Nathison doubled in the first, Janove singled in the fifth and Rodriguez singled later in the fifth, but the Tigers never got a runner past second base after the first inning. Reese induced weak contact throughout, recording seven groundouts and four flyouts.

The pivotal moment came in the bottom of the fourth. Diehl hit Brown with a pitch, Brown stole second and Griggs walked, prompting Towson to bring in reliever Joey Tuttoilmondo. After Cox struck out looking, Gallello singled to right field, scoring Brown and Griggs. The ball was misplayed by right fielder Nick Rodriguez, allowing Gallello to advance to third. Melara was hit by a pitch and stole second. Craig then doubled to left field, driving in Gallello and Melara to stretch the lead to 8-0.

Tuttoilmondo allowed two earned runs on one hit with two strikeouts in one inning. Towson reliever Liam Diehl had already exited after three innings, and the Tigers bullpen could not stop the Pride’s momentum.

Hofstra’s lineup produced eight hits. Biddle went 2-for-3 with an RBI. Craig drove in two runs on his fourth-inning double. Gallello had a 1-for-3 day with two RBIs. Melara singled and drove in a run. Brown and Griggs each collected one hit. The Pride improved to 17-23 overall and 7-12 in the Colonial Athletic Association.

Towson dropped to 17-27 overall and 6-10 in conference play. The Tigers were coming off a 6-5 win against Hofstra on Saturday, but could not replicate that success Sunday. Nathison, Janove and Rodriguez accounted for the team’s only hits.

The game was the third in a four-game series between the two teams. Hofstra won the opener 12-1 on Friday, while Towson took the second game 6-5 on Saturday. The series concludes Monday.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Hofstra 5, Towson 2. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Hofstra with a 66.60 percent probability to win.