BROOKLYN, N.Y. - The LIU Brooklyn baseball team saw their early 5-0 lead evaporate Wednesday afternoon on LIU Field, as the visiting Hofstra Pride rallied late in the game to take the lead, and eventually the win, 12-6.

LIU got on the board early, striking first in the bottom of the first inning. Freshman Luis Arias de los Santos led off with a double to right center, and he was advanced on senior Brian Lamboy's single past second base. Hofstra would get the double play on the next batter, but Arias was able to score on the play, and LIU led, 1-0.

The Blackbirds continued the scoring in the bottom of the second frame. Sophomore Andrew Turner led off with a single up the middle, and junior Anthony Capo followed with a single through the right side. Freshman Joe Mercadante came to the plate and bunted. The right fielder beat the throw to first for the bunt single and RBI when Turner came around to score. Capo would score two batters later on a wild pitch, and Arias had an RBI single through the left side to put the Blackbirds up, 4-0. Junior Charles Misiano also came home in the inning, scoring on a defensive throw to put the final tally at 5-0 at the end of the inning.

Hofstra finally got on the board in the top of the third inning, with two RBI doubles and an error, cutting the lead down to 5-3. Big hits made the difference for the Pride late in the game. A two-RBI homer in the fifth tied the game up, 5-5, and a grand slam in the top of the sixth put the visiting team up for good. Hofstra used two RBI singles in the top of the seventh to add two more runs to the total, 12-5.

LIU's final run came in the bottom of the eighth, on an RBI double from Capo, putting the final score at 12-6, in favor of Hofstra.

Freshman William Jackson III (1-2) had the loss on the mound, despite a game-high four strikeouts. Junior Matt Ornstein and senior Chas Lacko each had scoreless innings of work for LIU out of the bullpen.

Freshman Luis Arias de los Santos led LIU with two hits, including a double, and an RBI. Junior Anthony Capo went 2-for-3 with a double, an RBI and a run scored, while senior Brian Lamboy also had two hits for LIU in the loss. Freshman Joe Mercadante also had an RBI for the Blackbirds.

Up next, LIU travels to New Britain, Conn., to take part in a four-game series against Northeast Conference foe Central Connecticut State, Friday, April 22 to Sunday, April 24.