HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. (Interstat) — Alec Couture pitched seven shutout innings of no-hit baseball and Aidan Bretschneider drove in four runs Friday to lead Monmouth to a 5-2 victory over Hofstra in the first game of a doubleheader.

Couture allowed two unearned runs on zero hits while striking out seven over seven innings, bouncing back from a rough outing May 2 against Northeastern in which he surrendered six hits and two earned runs in one inning. The right-hander walked one and did not allow a hit before exiting after the seventh inning, his longest outing of the season. He threw 88 pitches, 59 for strikes.

Monmouth improved to 26-20, while Hofstra fell to 18-24.

Bretschneider, serving as the designated hitter, went 2 for 4 with two doubles and four RBIs. His first double came in the fourth inning, scoring catcher Brendan Buecker and shortstop Jake Lovarco to tie the game at 2-2 after Hofstra had taken an early lead. Bretschneider struck again in the eighth inning, ripping a two-run double down the right-field line to plate Lovarco and second baseman Michael Bruno, extending the lead to 5-2.

First baseman Chris Walsh also contributed with a solo home run to deep left field in the fifth inning, giving Monmouth its first lead at 3-2.

Hofstra scored first in the bottom of the second inning when shortstop Michael Corona doubled to deep center field, driving in left fielder Joe Gallello from first base. The Pride added another run in the third on a single to shortstop by Gallello that scored center fielder James Brown, who had been hit by a pitch and advanced to third on a single by second baseman Ryan Griggs.

Monmouth starter Alec Couture settled in after the third inning, retiring 10 of the next 11 batters he faced. He struck out the side in the fifth inning and worked around a leadoff single in the sixth by inducing a groundout and a strikeout.

Austin Beard relieved Couture in the eighth inning and pitched two scoreless innings, allowing no hits and striking out one. Beard faced the heart of the Hofstra order in the eighth, stranding runners at second and third after a walk and a hit-by-pitch loaded the bases with two outs. He induced a groundout to shortstop to end the threat.

Hofstra used five pitchers. Starter Brayden Gregg allowed two runs on four hits over three and one-third innings with five strikeouts and one walk. Tanner Sanderoff gave up one run on two hits in two and two-thirds innings, striking out four. Joseph Curreri surrendered two runs on one hit in two innings, walking two. Grady Lacourciere and Maddon McArthur combined for one scoreless inning, with McArthur recording one out.

Monmouth outhit Hofstra 7-9, with Buecker contributing two hits, including a double. Hofstra’s Gallello finished 2 for 3 with a run and an RBI, and Corona went 1 for 4 with a double and an RBI.

The game featured three double plays, including a crucial 1-3-5-4 double play in the third inning that ended a Hofstra rally. With runners on first and second, designated hitter Justin Melara hit a grounder to first base, and the Monmouth defense cut down the lead runner at third, with the relay to second retiring Gallello.

Monmouth took the series opener after the teams split a three-game set in March, with Hofstra winning 5-4 and Monmouth winning 5-4 and 19-9.

The teams are scheduled to play the second game of the doubleheader later Friday, with the series concluding Sunday. Monmouth next faces North Carolina A&T on May 14, while Hofstra travels to Fordham on May 12.