Hofstra baseball looking for first bid to NCAAs

This is the first time Hofstra has made the Colonial Athletic Association baseball championship since 2005. Win it all and Hofstra gets its first bid to the NCAA Tournament.

“When we step on the field we know we have a great chance of winning each and every day,’’ said first baseman Jared Hammer, one of the hitting stars. “Our goal right now is to definitely make a regional and the only way we can do that is by winning the whole thing. I think that people know what we’re about, people look at our stats, they see a great offense, pretty decent pitching, pretty decent defense. They know they’re going to be in for a battle.’’

Hofstra set a school record with 33 victories. “We’re three wins away from making a regional,’’ coach John Russo said. “In our wildest dreams I don’t know anybody who could have said that.’’  

CAA CHAMPIONSHIP

When: James Madison University, Wednesday-Saturday.

Where: Veterans Memorial Park, Harrisonburg, Va.

Admission: Adults, $10, students, free.

MATCHUPS

Wednesday

George Mason (33-22) vs. VCU (32-23), noon.

Delaware (27-35) vs. Towson (26-29), 3:30 p.m.

Thursday

UNC-Wilmington (35-20) vs. George Mason or VCU, noon.

Hofstra (33-20) vs. Delaware or Towson, 3:30 p.m.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

RF Danny Poma: Pro prospect hit .435 with 31 doubles, seven home runs, 47 RBIs. Also had 35 stolen bases. Went 6-for-6 with two home runs against NYIT.

1B Jared Hammer: Batted .383 with 18 doubles, four HRs and a .532 slugging percentage.

P John Tiedemann. Led team in wins (seven) and strikeouts (62). Held opponents to a .240 batting average, third in the CAA.

COACH

John Russo (first season, 33-20). Started off as interim, named full-time as team set record for most wins. Should be CAA coach of the year.

NCAA LEADER BOARD

Hofstra is third in Division I in hits (637) and second in doubles (138), batting average (.336) and stolen bases (148). The Pride ranks third in on-base percentage (.421) and fifth in slugging percentage (.480).

SIGNATURE WIN

March 18, 12-5 over VCU. After VCU took a 5-4 lead with three runs in the eighth, Hofstra responded with eight runs in the bottom of the inning. Hammer hit a three-run homer.