By Mike Rudin – SPORTS EDITOR
The Hofstra Pride opened a three-game series on their home field against the Elon Phoenix with a doubleheader last Saturday and won back-to-back games 4-1 and 4-0 respectively.
The Pride improved to 25-10-1 as well as gained separation in the Colonial Athletic Association standings in the second place slot with a 10-3 conference record while Elon dropped to 7- in the CAA, holding the third place slot.
“It was two good wins. Elon’s a very good team, kept us off balanced with their pitching changes” said head coach Larissa Anderson. “I was very happy with our quality at-bats [and] unbelievable defense. Lacey Clark made some great plays, very impressed with our defense today.”
Hofstra’s pitching staff flourished on the mound with back-to-back complete game wins by Morgan Lashley and Taylor Pirone.
“They kept the ball in the ballpark for the most part except for that one by Morgan but both of them controlled the strike zone, they attacked the batters early,” said Anderson. “When they attack the strike zone early, they’re able to get ahead and then expands the strike zone for the opposing hitter…I was very impressed to see both of them close out their own game which is something I was looking forward to.”
Hofstra’s starter in game one, Morgan Lashley, pitched seven solid innings, struck out 10 Phoenix batters and allowed zero walks for the win, she improved to 14-1. Lashley gave up one run and three hits during her outing but the Pride offense made up with enough run support.
Freshman Megan Patierno, blasted a solo shot for the first run of the game in the bottom of the second.
Hofstra heated up in the bottom of the third with a three-run rally to extend their lead to 4-0. Freshman right fielder Brielle Pietrafesa doubled down the third-base line, driving in Kim Smith.
After rookie Brittany Allocca walked and filled the bases, senior Erin Trippi fired a two-run base hit to right field, Lacey Clark and Pietrafesa crossed home plate for the final runs by the Pride in game one.
Elon retaliated in the top of the sixth inning with a solo-home run by Hannah Olsen to cut Hofstra’s lead to three but Lashley shook off the hit and shut the Phoenix down for the remainder of the game.
Elon’s starter, Kiandra Mitchum, was credited the loss, pitching 2.1 innings deep and allowed all four runs on five hits and one walk. Two errors by the team didn’t support her as she dropped to 8-7 on the year.
Game two of Saturday’s doubleheader against Elon was set shortly afterwards and the Pride didn’t skip a beat.
Hofstra starter, Taylor Pirone, eliminated Elon’s offense with a complete-game shutout win, her third of the season, for Hofstra’s second victory of the day.
Pirone threw a three-hitter and struck out three on 82 pitches for seven scoreless innings. Pirone’s superb start set the stage for the Hofstra offense to bury the Elon Phoenix after she stifled them.
From the bottom of the first, Hofstra provided the necessary runs to win the game thanks to an RBI walk to Brittany Allocca with the bases loaded and an RBI base hit by Megan Patierno for an early 2-0 lead.
With Chloe Fitzgerald on base, Kim Smith stepped up and smashed a two-run homer to add insurance for the Pride in in the bottom of the second for her fourth home run of the season.
Neither team scored throughout the remainder of the game, Hofstra left eight runners on base throughout the game while Elon left five.
Lacey Clark was the only Pride player to have multiple hits in game two, batting 2-for-3 and it’s her eighth multiple-hit performance in 2015.
Pirone improved her record to 11-9 on the season while Elon’s starter, Caitlin O’Shea dropped to 2-3.
