SOUTH HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. (Interstat) — Jayder Raifstanger went 3 for 3 with a home run and five RBIs, and the Saint John’s Red Storm built a 12-run lead before holding off a furious Hofstra Pride rally for a 12-10 victory Tuesday afternoon at University Field.

Raifstanger’s grand slam in the fourth inning capped a six-run outburst that gave Saint John’s a 12-0 advantage. But Hofstra answered with 10 runs over the next five innings, bringing the tying run to the plate in the eighth before Saint John’s reliever Evan Hoeckele shut the door.

Saint John’s (24-20) scored twice in the first inning. Shaun McMilan homered to deep center field, driving in Raifstanger, who had walked. Adam Agresti doubled but was stranded. The Red Storm extended the lead to 5-0 in the third. After LeGrande was hit by a pitch, stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error by Hofstra pitcher Hunter, Raifstanger doubled him home. Agresti then homered to left field, scoring Raifstanger.

The game turned decisively in the fourth. Saint John’s loaded the bases on three straight singles from Spooner, Mansour and Rodriguez. LeGrande singled to right to drive in Spooner. Raifstanger followed with a grand slam to center, putting Saint John’s ahead 12-0.

Hofstra (15-22) began chipping away in the bottom of the fourth when CJ Griggs led off with a solo home run. Tyler Cox added a solo shot in the fifth. The Pride’s comeback gained momentum in the seventh. Gallello doubled and scored on a single by Castrataro. Biddle doubled, and George Holt singled to left, plating two runs. Brown later singled to make it 12-6.

Hofstra’s big eighth inning sliced the lead to two. Melara homered to center to start the frame. Holt delivered a two-run single, and Brown added an RBI single, pulling the Pride within 12-10. But Hoeckele relieved with two on and two outs and struck out Craig looking to end the threat. Hoeckele then worked a perfect ninth, striking out Melara and getting Gallello and Castrataro on groundouts to seal the win.

Raifstanger, who had gone 0 for 4 in his previous game, also drew a walk and was hit by a pitch. He doubled in the third before his grand slam. Agresti finished 3 for 5 with a double, a home run and three RBIs. Holt paced Hofstra with two hits and four RBIs, including the two-run singles in the seventh and eighth. Griggs and Cox each homered.

Saint John’s used six pitchers. Nick Gilpin earned the win with four innings of hitless relief, allowing two runs and striking out two. Joe Mascio started and pitched one scoreless inning. Hoeckele recorded the final four outs, two via strikeout. For Hofstra, Reno Spagnoli threw 2 1/3 scoreless innings, allowing one hit with two strikeouts.

The game surpassed Interstat’s game simulator projection of Saint John’s 7, Hofstra 4. Interstat’s ELO system had given Saint John’s a 64.70 percent probability to win.