After splitting Friday’s double-header against Hofstra, Northeastern came into Sunday’s rubber match looking to win their opening series of conference play. The Huskies set the tone early and never looked back, showcasing their dominance with a resounding 13-5 victory over the Pride.
From the first pitch, Northeastern displayed their offensive prowess, putting up an impressive five runs in the opening inning. Mike Sirota and Alex Lane contributed with key hits and RBIs, giving them an early 5-0 lead that they would continue to build upon throughout the game.
Senior Wyatt Scotti took the mound for the Huskies and delivered a solid performance to earn the win. Despite giving up five runs, Scotti’s command of the strike zone and ability to keep the Pride batters off balance played a crucial role in Northeastern’s success on the mound.
Northeastern’s starting rotation has struggled so far this season to make it deep into games, putting more stress on the bullpen to close out matchups. Scotti’s six-inning performance was the longest by any starter this season, giving the bullpen some much deserved rest.
Senior Cade Henry took the mound for the Pride and his time on the mound was short-lived. He only pitched 1.2 innings in which he gave up six earned runs on four hits. Additionally, Henry struggled with his command, allowing three walks and hitting three batters.
As the game progressed, Northeastern’s depth and talent were on full display. Their ability to generate offense from multiple players in the lineup showcased their versatility and strength as a unit. Whether it was hitting for power, smart baserunning, or situational hitting, the Huskies found ways to keep the pressure on the Pride’s pitching staff.
The Huskies brought in another haul of runs in the fourth inning. In addition to having two runs walked in, an RBI single from catcher Gregory Bozzo and a sacrifice fly from Luke Beckstein gave the Huskies a commanding 12-3 lead.
Hofstra attempted to get their offense going as the game progressed. Despite receiving a two-run blast from former Northeastern outfielder Luke Masiuk, the Pride struggled to find a spark and were kept off the board for the remainder of the contest.
After six solid innings from Scotti, preseason All-American Aiven Cabral came into the game and gave Northeastern three flawless innings to close it out. Cabral spun three shutout innings, only giving up one hit and tallying four strikeouts to seal the Huskies’ win.
Northeastern received star-hitting performances from Beckstein and Alex Lane. They had a combined four hits, four RBI’s, and totaled an On Base Percentage of .667. Lane continues to be a reliable power source for the Huskies with a batting average of .442 and a slugging percentage of .783, both of which are top-four marks in the CAA.
The Huskies’ ability to execute both offensively and defensively up and down the lineup was key to their success in this matchup, underscoring their status as a formidable force in the conference.
Once again Northeastern continues to send a clear message to the rest of the CAA that they are a team with significant offensive firepower and are a team to be reckoned with. The Huskies have won five of their last six, and will look to continue their winning ways this week.
Northeastern will be back in Boston on Tuesday as they host Central Connecticut. WRBB will have full coverage from Amelia Ballingall and Luke Graham on WRBBSports+. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m.