Hofstra Records Second Straight Shutout To Beat Northeastern, 6-0
Rob Washburn
Box Score
WILMINGTON, N.C. (May 21, 2026) – Hofstra’s pitching staff recorded a shutout for the second straight game, sending the fifth-seeded Pride over #2 Northeastern, 6-0, in Game 5 of the CAA Baseball Championship on Thursday night at Brooks Field.
Hofstra (22-27) advances to the winner’s bracket final, where it will meet top-seeded Campbell at 7 p.m. on Friday. Northeastern (34-20) will play an elimination game at 3 p.m. on Friday against either Monmouth or UNCW.
Three Pride pitchers combined on a two-hitter against Huskies. Freshman starter Nick Reese gave up just a single over the first 3.2 innings before giving way to Joseph Curreri, who also surrendered only a single in a season-high tying 4.1 innings to earn his first win (1-1) of the year. Tanner Sanderoff closed it out in the ninth with a game-ending double play.
Third baseman Gabriel Melara had a big night for the Hofstra offense, going 4-for-5 with a triple and two RBI’s. Tyler Castrataro was 3-for-4 and drove in two.
Hofstra got off to a fast start, scoring three times after two were out in the top of the first. Melara began the surge by lining a triple into the right-field corner. Nick Gallello followed with an RBI single, and the Pride loaded the bases after a walk and hit batter. Castrataro delivered a single up the middle that plated two for a 3-0 advantage.
The Pride continued their two-out success in the second. With two down, CJ Griggs doubled down the right-field line and came home on Melara’s base hit to center, upping the lead to 4-0.
Hofstra manufactured a fifth run in the fifth. Michael Brown legged out an infield single, advanced to third following a walk and a fielder’s choice and raced home on a passed ball.
The Pride tacked on an insurance run in the ninth when Griggs tripled and was driven in on Melara’s fourth hit of the game.
Northeastern’s biggest scoring opportunity came in the third. The Huskies loaded the bases with two outs, but Reese ended the threat with a strikeout. Harrison Feinberg and Carter Bentley provided the two Northeastern hits and Tyler Harmony walked three times.