By Stephen Cooney
After the first game of a double header against the George Mason University Patriots, the Hofstra University Pride softball team clinched the 2008 Colonial Athletic Association number one seed and home field advantage in the conference championship tournament.
“Playing at home is a great advantage.” senior pitcher and designated player Courtney Oliver said. “We know the field and it is a great atmosphere here.”
The Pride won the first game of the double header behind the arm of junior Kayleigh Lotti who pitched a complete game shut out and advanced her season record to 16-5. Lotti allowed only two hits while striking out 12 Patriots on the way to a 4-0 victory in the first game of the double header.
Oliver starred in both games – as the designated player in the first contest and the starting pitcher in the second.
With the Pride ahead by one run in the bottom of the third inning of the first game, Oliver hit a double off of the top of the right center field fence driving in one run. In the fourth inning Oliver added another RBI with a single. She finished the first game two for three with two RBIs and a 1.00 slugging percentage.
Picking up where she left off in the first game, Oliver had an RBI ground out in the first inning of the second contest to give the Pride a one run lead. Taking the mound in the bottom of the first inning, Oliver recorded one strikeout and did not allow a hit. In the second inning, Oliver struck out the side in order.
The Pride seemed to have the game in hand with a four to nothing lead when Oliver hit a rough patch. She walked the leadoff hitter, then gave up a double to center field and hit a batter with a pitch to load the bases with only one out. After an error by third baseman Genevieve Haney allowed one run to score, the bases were still loaded.
“I was just trying to keep my composure.” Oliver said. “I knew we were just a few pitches away from getting out of the inning.”
Oliver responded to the loaded bases by striking out Kate Bustin looking and forcing pinch hinter Sarah Martin to fly out in foul territory to end the top of the fourth.
The Pride responded with one run in the bottom of the fourth inning with an RBI single by Erika Bernstein. Then the Pride’s offense came alive in the bottom of the fifth inning. Carolann Lubach added two runs for the Pride with a double to left center field, and the next batter, Sara Michalowski, singled down the middle of the field to drive in Lubach. The Pride took an 8-1 lead – one run shy of the mercy rule.
Oliver, not forgetting her bat, hit a one-run walk-off single between the first and second basemen to put the mercy rule into full effect.
“It was good to end the game in five.” Oliver said. “We always want to do that if we can.”