The Hofstra University softball team’s comeback attempt fell short following a 7-6 loss against the University of Buffalo to open the Lakeside Book Company Invitational on Friday, Feb. 27. With the loss, the Pride held an overall record of 1-8, while the Bulls improved to 5-11.
Hofstra trailed 5-1 after the fourth inning, but the Pride came alive during the fifth, crossing the plate five times to take the lead. The Bulls responded with two runs in the bottom of the inning which sealed the game.
Emma Brennan started in the circle for the Pride but struggled to get through the first inning. She allowed three runs on four hits before Kailyn Haig came in for relief in the second.
The Pride got on the board in the top of the first inning. Alanna Morse got herself in scoring position after rocketing a double to center field, then scored on a two-out single by Mackenzie Fitzgerald.
In the bottom half of the inning, Buffalo tied the game. After Ryleigh Smith caught Emily Gorman attempting to steal second, Bella Smithson lifted a ball over the center field wall for a two-out solo home run.
The Bulls pulled ahead in the second, though, scoring three more runs. Brennan faced the minimum for the inning but allowed a double, a single and an RBI double, so Haig got the ball in relief. Buffalo continued to be relentless, as Delaney Ellis recorded a sacrifice fly and Gorman knocked in an RBI single.
The game remained deadlocked at 4-1 until the fourth inning. The Bulls cashed in on another two-out opportunity, as Gorman knocked a single up the middle for her second RBI and hit of the game.
Hofstra erupted in the fifth inning to take the lead. Kimmya Sims was issued a free pass to begin the rally for the Pride, then Morse slammed a two-run home run over the center field wall to trim the lead to two. With one out, the Pride loaded the bases after walks to Dahlia Palacio, Chelsea Villar, and Fitzgerald. Victoria Frobosilo drove in a run on a fielder’s choice to score Palacio, making it a one-run ballgame. Gemma D’Orazio gave Hofstra the lead for the first time since the first inning with a two-run single up the middle.
Reagan Terwilliger and Smithson gave Buffalo the lead that would last for the rest of the game in the bottom of the fifth inning with back-to-back home runs. The Bulls recorded six consecutive outs to secure the victory.
Palacio extended her on-base streak to 13 games, as Morse and Fitzgerald each recorded two hits in the contest. Villar drew a game-high two walks in the loss.
Hofstra’s Emma Falen picked up the loss in three innings of relief. She allowed two runs on four hits, failing to strike out a batter.
Emily Watters recorded the win in 2.2 innings pitched in relief. She blanked the Pride, allowing no runs on zero hits.
The Pride continued the Lakeside Book Company Invitational with a doubleheader against Buffalo and James Madison on Saturday, Feb. 28. First pitch was scheduled for 11 a.m.
