By Alana Pelosi, Sports Editor
Over the weekend against conference rival James Madison, the Pride softball team continued its domination as it swept the Dukes in the three game series. On the road, the Pride kicked off the series on Saturday with an early 6-0 shutout victory highlighted by seventeen strikeouts from Olivia Galati.
In the first game both Galati and senior first baseman Michele DePasquale had two hits and an RBI. Galati’s 17 strikeouts were of 21 outs recorded by the Dukes and were two short of the Pride record of 19 strikeouts in a game.
Hofstra then followed up with another victory later on that day with Erin Wade on the mound, yet Galati still manage to shine in the second game. Not only did she close off the nightcap in relief for Wade but she hit a solo home run, too.
The Pride finally wrapped-up its trip to Harrisburg with another shutout victory coming from Galati in game three. The offense was spurred by a three-run inning that included home runs by both DePasquale and junior third baseman Sara Michalowski. Michalowski was 2-2 on the game with two runs and two RBI’s and freshman utility player Becca Bigler also added three RBIs when she hit a sixth-inning home run.
The Pride returned home to face Marist on Tuesday as Erin Wade took the mound. Against the Red Foxes, Wade was in total control and completed the game with six strikeouts for a shutout. “She struggled a little early on with her command but she settled in and got good rhythm going,” said head coach Bill Edwards of his sophomore pitcher.
The offense got off to an early start against Marist thanks to a first inning, two-run homerun from DePasquale, who now lead the team with six. The offense continued to roll through the second after a slap hit from Kris Root loaded the bases for a red-hot DePasquale. Lining one up the middle, the ball smacked Marist pitcher Emily Osterhaus, who subsequently left the game. Relief pitcher Caitlin Schell then gave up a line drive down the right-field line to freshman outfielder Tessa Ziemba. At one point against Marist the bats died down and the Pride’s 5-0 lead at the end of the third flat-lined for the next three innings. Over the course of the three innings, the Pride picked up a few hits but with poor pitching on Marist’s part there was not much for the Pride to hit. “We weren’t really worried because our defense was solid and we knew sooner or later we’d open up,” said Edwards.
Hofstra finally broke free in the bottom of the sixth when sophomore catcher Courtney Crews knocked in a RBI double and junior shortstop Trisha Dreslinski capped off the game, because of the eight-run rule, with an RBI single.
Wednesday afternoon the Pride hosted the Stags of Fairfield. Galati toed the slab in the circle for the Pride again in this game. The freshman took a perfect game into the seventh and final inning before surrendering her first hit of the game with one out. “I just have to work hard every pitch,” Galati said,” I let one slip and there were consequences.”
Prior to giving up the first hit, Galati kept the perfect game in tact by fielding a ball that had bounced off her stomach. “I just didn’t react quick enough,” she said. “I just had to recover and get her out at first.”
DePasquale led the offensive charge for the Pride again with a tiebreaking homerun and 2 RBI’s in the 5-0 victory. Michalowski was 3-3 with two runs scored in the game, which was the Pride’s eleventh straight victory.
