Michael Florides hit a go-ahead RBI single in the top of the 10th, which would lift third-seeded Hofstra over second-seeded UNCW 4-3 in game five of the Colonial Athletic Association Baseball Championship.

Hofstra improves to 28-21 and advances to face No. 5 Northeastern in the winner’s bracket on Friday at 7 p.m. UNCW sits at 31-23 after the setback and will face No. 6 Elon in an elimination game at 11 a.m. on Friday. 

Similar to its opening game, Hofstra jumped out to an early lead before UNCW made its way back to tie the contest late. Despite not winning on a walk-off, the Pride prevailed in extra innings. 

In the top of the 10th, Jake Liberatore drew a leadoff walk. Santino Rosso moved him over with a sacrifice bunt before Ryan Morash grounded out to third. With two outs and Liberatore standing on second, Florides took a 1-1 pitch through the left side of the infield to knock in the eventual game-winning run.

UNCW put its first two batters on in the bottom half of the inning with a Jac Crooms base hit up the middle before Dillon Lifrieri reached on an error. However, Michael O’Hanlon slammed the door shut, recording a strikeout, and inducing a double play to end the game.

Hofstra scored the first run of the game without a hit in the top of the second. With two outs in the inning, Rosso was hit by a pitch before back-to-back walks loaded the bases. Rosso scored on a wild pitch, giving the Pride an early 1-0 lead.

The Pride extended its lead with a pair of runs in the top of the third. Will Kennedy and Brian Morell led off the inning with back-to-back singles. Kennedy took third on Morell’s base hit, and the throw allowed Morell to advance, setting up second and third with no outs. Kennedy scored on a ground out from Kevin Bruggeman before Steve Harrington knocked in Morell with a sacrifice fly to give Hofstra a 3-0 advantage.

UNCW scratched across a run in the bottom of the sixth courtesy of a Chris Thorburn RBI double. With one out in the inning, Croom was hit by a pitch and advanced to second on a wild pitch. After Lifrieri flew out to right field, Thorburn delivered the two-out extra-base hit to cut the deficit to 3-1.

The Seahawks tied the game in the bottom of the eight with a pair of runs. Matt Suggs led off the inning with a single, and Croom reached on a fielder’s choice. Lifrieri walked to put runners on first and second before Thorburn singled through the right side, driving in his second run of the game. With UNCW trailing 3-2. Ron Evans walked, setting up runners on first and third in advance of Noah Bridges' game-tying sacrifice fly.

Mark Faello tossed 7.0 strong innings for the Pride, giving up just two earned runs on seven hits while striking out five. O’Hanlon worked 2.2 innings of shutout ball in relief, picking up one strikeout and allowing just one hit.