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Northeastern (18-23, 8-14 CAA) curbed a two-game skid in grand fashion, mounting a four-run rally at the top of the ninth inning to best Hofstra on Friday afternoon in Hempstead, N.Y.

Senior left-hander Andrew Leenhouts (5-3) picked up his fifth victory of the season via seven strikeouts through eight innings of work. Junior Dylan Maki stepped in a high-pressure spot after the Huskies posted a four spot on the Pride at the top of the ninth and shut down Hofstra on 10 pitches to earn his third save of the year. Bryan Verbitsky endured the loss after giving up four runs in the save situation.

Heading into the ninth inning trailing, 5-3, third-year catcher Jon Leroux sparked NU's comeback with a solo shot. Northeastern continued to pile it on and added three more runs to pick up the win.

Leroux, along with sophomore Aaron Barbosa, junior designated hitter John Puttress and senior left field Matt Miller, racked up a pair of hits. Leroux's two RBI paced NU's offensive output.

Northeastern got off to an early start offensively after Barbosa earned a free pass in five pitches to start off the first inning. Puttress moved the runner over with a shot up the middle and Miller loaded the bags with a single to left field on a 1-0 count.

With nobody out and the bases loaded, rookie third baseman Rob Fonseca knocked in the first run of the game on a tear through the left side of the infield. Freshman second baseman Jason Vosler kept the runners moving on a fielder's choice to plate Puttress and five the Huskies a 2-0 lead.

Leroux capped NU's scoring attack with a single through second pass to bring home Miller for the three-run pad before Hofstra retired the rest of the side.

Leenhouts surrendered one run in the bottom of the first after Danny Poma belted one down the left field line and scored on a Matt Ford single to right center two pitches later. Northeastern prevented any further damage after Vosler and Hart turned a double play to end the frame.

Senior first baseman Tucker Roeder recorded NU's lone hit at the top of the second before the Pride tied it up in the bottom of the third inning.

Austin Nyman led things off with a double down the left field line on a 1-0 count and then stole third base on the next pitch. Poma grounded out to third, but Nyman came across, making it a 3-2 affair. After Ford worked a 2-0 count, he tied it up with one swing and blasted a home run to right center.

Burg retired NU at the top of the fourth without a hit and the Pride took the lead following frame.

Kenny Jackson sent a solo shot down the right field line on the second pitch of the stanza to give Hofstra its first lead of the day, 4-3. With two outs, Leenhouts walked T.J. Thomas and on the following pitch, Nyman whacked a double to center field. Barbosa's throw to third was errant and Thomas scored on the play to extend Hofstra's lead, 5-3.

Both clubs combined for just three hits from the fifth through the eighth inning before the Huskies mounted their comeback.

Bryan Verbitsky looked to close it out for the Pride at the top of the ninth with a two-run cushion, but Leroux had other ideas as he triggered Northeastern's comeback with a leadoff home run to left center.

With one out, junior Jason Roth walked on four straight and Roeder was beaned shortly after to give the Huskies two runners on at the top of the ninth. Sophomore Connor Lyons was called on to pinch run for Roeder and with a full count, Barbosa tied the game with a hit to right field and plated Roth. Puttress kept the rally going with a single up the left side of the infield to knock Lyons in as the Huskies regained the lead, 6-5.

Verbitsky was yanked in favor of Brett Schreiber, but Miller greeted him with a double down the left field line to bring Barbosa across and put Northeastern ahead, 7-5. Fonseca and Vosler were retired, respectively, but the damage was done and NU never looked back.

Maki retired the Pride in 10 pitches to clinch the save and help Northeastern pick up a crucial triumph.

The Huskies play in their second game of a three-game set in Hempstead, N.Y., tomorrow afternoon when Northeastern and Hofstra duel at 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 5.