STONY BROOK, N.Y. (Interstat) — Jackson Bauer tossed five hitless innings of relief and Gabriel Melara homered and drove in four runs as Hofstra defeated Stony Brook 8-1 on Friday afternoon at Joe Nathan Field in a Colonial Athletic Association matchup.

The Pride improved to 20-25 overall, while the Seawolves fell to 20-30. Hofstra also won the opener of the three-game series, having beaten Stony Brook 4-0 on Thursday.

Bauer, a right-hander, entered the game in the bottom of the fourth inning after Stony Brook had just taken a 1-0 lead. The Seawolves scored their only run when James Schaffer singled to right field, bringing home Scott Gell, who had singled earlier in the frame. Hofstra starter Sean Hamilton allowed one earned run in three and two-thirds innings before Bauer took over.

Bauer retired the first 10 batters he faced and did not allow a hit in his five and one-third innings of work. He struck out four and faced only two batters over the minimum. His performance was a stark reversal from his previous outing on May 10 against Monmouth, when he gave up four hits and three earned runs in one and two-thirds innings.

Hofstra had taken an early lead in the top of the first inning. With two outs, Melara launched a solo home run to left field off Stony Brook starter Micah Worley. The Pride managed only that run through the first six innings against Worley, who scattered three hits and struck out seven in six and one-third innings.

The game remained 1-1 until the top of the seventh inning. C.J. Griggs led off with a double to left field and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Melara then singled to left to bring in Griggs, giving Hofstra a 2-1 lead.

The Pride broke the game open in the eighth inning. Tyler Castrataro singled, Michael Craig singled, and Michael Brown doubled down the left-field line to score Castrataro. After Griggs was intentionally walked, Melara doubled to center field, clearing the bases with two runs. Nick Biddle then reached on a fielder’s choice that plated two more runs after a throwing error by the shortstop. The inning produced five runs, all charged to reliever John Rizzo.

Hofstra added an insurance run in the ninth. Michael Brown tripled to right field to drive in Craig, who had reached on a fielder’s choice. Brown finished the game with two hits and two RBIs. Castrataro went 2 for 4 with a double and a run scored. The Pride collected nine hits in the contest, while Stony Brook managed five.

Scott Gell had two hits for the Seawolves. Nick Zampieron singled and stole two bases in the first inning but was left stranded. Schaffer drove in Stony Brook’s lone run.

Bauer’s relief effort, combined with Sean Hamilton’s three and two-thirds innings of two-hit ball, limited Stony Brook to just one run. The Seawolves had scored a combined 12 runs in three games against Hofstra earlier this season, including a 12-11 victory in 10 innings on April 12.

Hofstra and Stony Brook meet again Saturday in the final game of the series.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Stony Brook 5, Hofstra 4, and Interstat’s ELO system gave Stony Brook a 57.00 percent probability to win.