HEMPSTEAD, NY – Columbia baseball took an early 3-0 lead but could not hold on, as Hofstra came back to defeat the Lions, 4-3, on Wednesday afternoon at University Field.

Columbia (10-13) had a quiet day offensively, collecting just five hits. The big one was a two-run home run off the bat of catcher Owen Estabrook in the top of the third. It was Estabrook's third home run of the year.

Columbia added a third run in the top of the fourth inning when Jackson Brewer grounded out to first allowing Jack Kail to score. Kail started the rally with a single through the right side and moved to third on a pair of wild pitches.

Hofstra (11-18) finished the day with eleven hits – six of them coming in the four run fifth inning. The rally started with back-to-back doubles, the later from Michael Brown, scored the first run of the game for the Pride. With one out in the fifth, an RBI double from Tyler Castrataro made it 3-2. Later that same inning, CJ Griggs put the Pride ahead for good with a ground rule double that plated a pair.  

The loss went to reliever Lucas Dixon (0-1). Dixon entered the game in the fifth and recorded two outs, but not before surrendering four runs on five hits. Five other pitchers combined to throw 7.1 scoreless innings. Brendan Murphy threw three complete out of the pen, striking out six.

Hofstra's Brian Hart (1-1) was credited with the win. He pitched two scoreless innings in relief. He allowed just two base runners to reach via walks. Jackson Bauer (1) earned the save, he threw two scoreless innings.

The Lions return to action this weekend when Columbia hosts Cornell for a three-game series at Robertson Field at Satow Stadium. The three game series is slated to begin with a doubleheader on Friday with game one scheduled to start at 11:30 a.m.

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