Softball swept in opening doubleheader of Longhorn Invitational

The Hofstra University softball team took a trip down south to Texas for the Longhorn Invitational, where they lost both games in their doubleheader on Friday, March 1. Hofstra surrendered a 1-0 loss in extra innings to Northwestern State University in game one and a 6-4 loss in game two against Tarleton State University.

Julia Apsel, the Pride’s ace, fanned five Northwestern State batters over 7.1 innings of work. Apsel went back into the circle in the eighth since both teams were still scoreless until Northwestern State walked it off in the eighth inning on a wild pitch. 

Game two was a lot different for Hofstra. While the result was the same as game one, the Pride found a way to capitalize on some of their offensive opportunities. After opening the scoring in the first inning with an RBI double to right center off the bat of Aliya Catanzarita, Hofstra went down 4-1 after two innings of play.

Tarleton’s Katy Schaefer knocked in the first run for the Texans, with a double down the left field line. Coming around to score was Austin Germain. With two outs in the bottom of the first inning and two runners in scoring position, Kalyn Hill singled up the middle, taking a 2-1 lead.

Schaefer added two more RBI to her credit, as Ashlee LaRue and Kiana Gibson came around to score, giving Tarleton State an early 4-1 lead.

The Pride didn’t go away quietly as they mounted a comeback in the fourth inning. Catanzarita stayed hot as she knocked in Chelsea Manto and Lily Yepez with a double to left center. With two outs in the inning, Becca Vaillancourt singled to left field, which brought Catanzarita home, tying the game at 4-4.

With all the momentum in Hofstra’s favor, Tarleton State answered in the bottom of the fourth. A triple that scored one off the bat of Kelci Hill and another RBI for Schaefer gave the Texans a 6-4 lead that they never coughed up.

One member of the Pride that’s off to an impressive start is Vaillancourt. The starting catcher is slashing .304/.333/.478 through the first nine games of this young 2024 season. Vaillancourt went two-for-five at the dish during the doubleheader while adding two walks and one RBI.

Three pitchers ate up the seven-inning game against the Texans, as Annabella Pisapia received the starting nod from Hofstra head coach Adrienne Clark. Pisapia handled the first four runs allowed, four hits, three walks and two strikeouts over the course of two innings. Haley Venturini relieved Pisapia and surrendered two runs on two hits and one walk in 1.1 innings of work. Venturini was also credited with the loss, as her record worsened to 0-1. Marisa Ogden entered the game with the Pride trailing 6-4 and pitched 2.2 scoreless innings.

Hofstra is back at it again on Saturday, March 2, with the first pitch against Pennsylvania State University at 11:30 a.m. The Pride then closes out Saturday’s doubleheader against the No. 2 University of Texas, with first pitch set for 4 p.m.

Photo courtesy of Aaron Meullion