HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. (Interstat) — Tyler Cox delivered a decisive three-run double in the eighth inning, capping a four-RBI performance and powering the Hofstra Pride to an 8-3 victory over the College of Charleston Cougars in Colonial Athletic Association baseball Saturday.

The win, played under the lights after an afternoon start, marked the first of the season for Hofstra, which improved to 1-7 overall and 1-1 in the CAA. The Cougars fell to 6-8, 1-1.

After being held to one hit in a loss to the same Cougars pitching staff a day earlier, Cox broke out in a major way. The Hofstra center fielder finished 3 for 5, driving in the Pride’s first run with a double in the third inning and then blowing the game open in the eighth.

The most important sequence of the game began with the Pride leading 5-3 in the bottom of the eighth. Daniel Escalante led off with a single and was bunted to second. After two walks loaded the bases, Cox stepped in against reliever Davis Aiken. He laced a double to right-center field, clearing the bases and extending Hofstra’s lead to five runs.

That hit provided crucial insurance and underscored a game defined by Hofstra’s persistent offense, which racked up 13 hits, and its bullpen’s dominance. After College of Charleston staked starter Jace Stancil to a 3-0 lead in the first inning on Ethan Plyler’s two-run single, the Cougars’ offense was stifled.

Hofstra starter Chris Bedford settled in after the rocky first, working 4.2 innings and allowing three runs on five hits while striking out six. He handed off to Maddon McArthur, who earned the win with four strong innings of relief, surrendering just two hits and one run.

The Pride began chipping away at the deficit in the third. Sam Leonard singled, was bunted over, and scored on Cox’s first RBI double. Michael Craig followed with a ground-rule double to plate Cox, making it 3-2.

Hofstra tied it in the fourth on an RBI single from Leonard, then took the lead for good in the fifth. After a pitching change, Escalante launched a two-run homer to left field off reliever Alex Lyon, giving the Pride a 5-3 advantage.

From there, McArthur and closer Tanner Sanderoff silenced the Cougars, who managed only seven hits total. Sanderoff recorded the final out after McArthur allowed a run in the ninth.

For College of Charleston, Stancil took the loss, charged with three runs over 3.1 innings despite not allowing a hit; he walked four and hit a batter. The Cougars’ bullpen, aside from a scoreless inning by Hayden Thomas, struggled to contain the Hofstra lineup.

Escalante finished 2 for 4 with the home run and two RBIs for Hofstra, while Craig added two hits and an RBI. Landon Penfield had two of Charleston’s seven hits.

The teams conclude their three-game series Sunday at College of Charleston.