Mike Konstanty Homers Twice as UAlbany Baseball Splits Doubleheader at Hofstra

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Hempstead, N.Y. – Senior Mike Konstanty homered twice, including the game-winner in the opening contest, to lead the UAlbany baseball team to a split of a doubleheader with Hofstra on Tuesday, March 18 at University Field. The Great Danes took game one, 5-3, in seven innings, but dropped the nine-inning second game, 4-1.

In game one, the Pride took a 2-0 lead through three innings. Nick Panzarella singled in the first inning to right field to drive in lead-off batter Tom Legregni from second base. Hofstra tacked on a second run in the third inning on a run-scoring groundout by Matt Prokopowicz.

UAlbany (4-11-1) cut the deficit in half with a run in the top of the fourth. With two outs, freshman second baseman Jamie Liebowitz doubled down the left field line to score junior shortstop Sean Donovan from second base. The Pride got the run back in the bottom of the fifth on a single to right field by Prokopowicz to score Legregni.

The Great Danes narrowed the gap to 3-2 in the top of the sixth and took the lead with three runs in the seventh. Donovan led off the sixth with his first homer of the season to pull within one. In the seventh, sophomore right fielder Brendan Rowland led off the frame with a double down the left field line. Following a fly out, Rowland moved to third on a passed ball and scored the tying run on a wild pitch as junior center fielder Dave West walked. Konstanty followed with a two-run shot to center field, his third homer of the season.

Junior Sean Gregory pitched two scoreless innings in relief, striking out two, for his first win of the season. Junior Josh Willimott recorded six strikeouts over the first innings, yielding three runs on eight hits. Drew Luedtke took the loss for the Pride, allowing two runs on two hits in an inning of work. Scott A’Hara struck out four over the opening four innings, allowing just an unearned run, while Brody Fontaine allowed two runs (one earned) in two innings.

Donovan finished the game with three hits and two runs scored.

In the nightcap, Hofstra tallied single runs in each of the first two innings. After consecutive walks and a double play to start the game, Elliot Hagburg singled through the left side to bring in Roberto Muniz from third. In the second, Felix Adamkiewicz singled to center to plate Adam Perlo, who led off the frame with a double.

Konstanty cut the Hofstra lead in half with a homer to right field in the third inning, but that was the only scoring Hofstra starter Bobby Neelon would allow.

Hofstra (5-12) added runs in each of the fourth and eighth innings to deliver the final score. Anthony Sarno led off the fourth by being hit by a pitch. After advancing to third on back-to-back groundouts, he scored on a wild pitch. In the eighth, Hagburg knocked in Legregni with a double to center.

Neelon pitched a complete game, striking out 13, while yielding just one run on five hits. Junior southpaw Dave Noble took the loss for the Great Danes, yielding three runs on three hits and recording two strikeouts in four innings pitched. Junior Jeff Kaier pitched the final four innings, giving up a run on six hits and registering a pair of strikeouts.

UAlbany returns to action on Friday, March 21 in Conway, S.C. for the start of a three-game weekend set with nationally-ranked Coastal Carolina. First pitch is slated for 6 p.m.