The Towson Tigers continue conference play this weekend by welcoming another New York-area school to Schuerholz Park, this time Hofstra University. Hofstra is the largest private college on Long Island, which really makes it sound like they’re searching for something, anything, to brag about, but in actuality it is a fine institution of higher learning. Their mascot is the Pride, which apparently refers to two lions who became their athletic mascots in the 1980’s. I’m pretty sure you need more than two lions to have a pride, but whatever. Their alumni include Christopher Walken and that. Is. All that I, really. Need. To know. About that.
Punctuation, what. Is? It for. Anyway?
Oh, yeah, baseball…
The Hofstra baseball team is 11-6 on the season, but 1-2 in the Colonial Athletic Association after losing two of three to UNC-Wilmington. Hofstra ranks #22 nationally in earned run average (2.92). Runs will be at a premium this weekend.
The pride of the Pride pitching staff is John Rooney, the number one rated prospect in the CAA. The 6’ 5” junior is 3-0 with a 1.91 ERA and 43 strikeouts in 33 innings. Or it might be closer Chris Weiss, with a 2-1 record, four saves, and a nation leading 16.30 strikeouts per nine innings. Weiss has pitched at least two innings in six straight appearances, and seven of nine on the season. Score early, if not often.
Hofstra is led on offense by junior catcher Vito Friscia. Why, yes, he is from Long Island. Friscia, 6’ 3” and 225 lbs, is slashing .422/.513/.594 on the season, with three homeruns. The Pride are a very good, balanced team. This weekend will be a tough test for the Tigers.
The Watch List
Richie Palacios, SS – .354↓/.490↓/.561↓, 82 AB, 25 R, 3 HR, 8 2B, 15 RBI, 9-9 SB. Palacios had a forgettable game against George Washington, only the second time this season he has failed to reach base. Which means he’s probably about to start another multi-game hitting streak.
Andrew Cassard, OF – .246↓/.355↓/.262↓, 65 AB, 12 R, 6 RBI. I’ll be watching two things with Cassard this weekend – playing time and strikeouts. The sophomore hasn’t started the past three games, though he did get into the last game for two at bats. He has struck out at least once in eight straight games. As mentioned above, Hofstra’s pitching is really good, so this might be a tough weekend to get back on track.
Dirk Masters, 2B – .260↓/.393↓/.280↓, 50 AB, 6 R, 3 RBI, 2-2 SB. Since returning to the line-up, Masters only has two hits and a walk in 17 plate appearances. On the plus side, he has only one strikeout during that time.
Bo Plagge, OF/DH – .267/.405/.467, 4 R, 2 HR, 4 RBI,
Bo Plagge, P – 0-1, 8.56 ERA↓, 13.2 innings, 13 K, 13 BB. Plagge has 13 strikeouts, 13 walks, and has allowed 13 runs on the season. What does it mean? Well, nothing, but numbers are fun.
David Marriggi, P – 4.18 ERA↑, 32.1 IP, 20 BB, 32 K. Marriggi has pitched well his last two starts, going into the seventh inning in each, but the offense has only scored one run in each of those games.
More Info
Pitching match-ups, series history, and more can be found here. The weekend pitching rotation stays the same, with Gavin Weyman going today at 3 P.M., followed by David Marriggi and Michael Adams this weekend. All three games should be streaming online.
Meta
With this being a holiday weekend, my ability to do individual game previews and recaps will be spotty. I love baseball, but I love my family more. Recaps will be more likely than previews, but either way I will definitely recap the whole weekend on Monday. Enjoy your eggs and bunnies!
