Box Score JERSEY CITY, N.J. – Hofstra downs Saint Peter's 11-4 in non-conference baseball action on Wednesday.
Nick Ciocco (Cherry Hill, N.J./Cherry Hill) paced the Peacocks (4-20) with a hit and two RBIs. Mike Ionta (Westfield, N.J./Westfield) added a hit and two runs scored while Nick Camilleri (Hasbrouck Heights, N.J./Saint Peter's Prep) posted a hit and a run scored in the loss.
Mat Annunziata powered the Pride (8-21) with two hits, four RBIs and a run scored while Brad Witkowski registered two hits, three runs scored and three RBIs in the winning effort.
Hofstra took the lead early in the game and never looked back to take the first meeting between the two teams since 2008.
Kevin O'Connor got the scoring started in the second when he coaxed a bases loaded walk before Annunziata smacked a bases clear three-run double to center field to take a 4-0 lead.
Saint Peter's answered with a run in the bottom of the inning. Camilleri reached on an error before Gary Puente (Linden, N.J./Linden) put runners on the corners with a single to right field. Griffin Arnott (Brielle, N.J./Christian Brothers Academy) brought home Camilleri on a sacrifice fly to center to cut the margin to 4-1.
Vito Friscia responded with a solo homer in the third to help the Pride restore a four-run margin.
The Peacocks came back with a run in the bottom of the third. Ionta led off the inning with a double to left field and then touched home on Ciocco's RBI single through the left side to trim the deficit to 5-2.
Hofstra posted three runs in the fourth on an Annunziata's infield RBI single before Witkowski drilled a two-run homer to left to give the Pride an 8-2 advantage.
Witkowski added a solo shot to left for his second round tripper of the afternoon in the sixth to extend the Hofstra margin to 9-2.
Saint Peter's registered two runs in the seventh to make it a five-run game. Jon Kristoffersen (Jefferson, N.J./Jefferson Township) started the frame with a double to center field and then advanced to third on a wild pitch while Ionta walked to put runners on the corners. Rob Moore (Ridge, N.Y./Longwood) had a strange at-bat after he thought he walked on a full count only to be called for a foul ball to come back to the plate. Three pitches later Moore smoked a double to center field to plate Kristoffersen. Ciocco then hit an RBI groundout to bring home Ionta to cut the margin to 9-4.
The Pride answered with two runs in the eighth on a two-run pinch-hit single up the middle by Chris Hardardt to set the final score at 11-4.
Nick Arre (Hillsdale, N.Y./Taconic Hills) took the loss for the Peacocks.
Saint Peter's returns to action on Saturday at home against Monmouth for a doubleheader. First pitch is 12 p.m.
