The Hofstra University softball team swept the University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW) Seahawks on Sunday, March 31, after winning game three 6-1. This win for the Pride improved their overall record to 10-17 and their Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) record to 8-4. UNCW, on the other hand, fell to 17-15 overall and 8-4 in the CAA.
Hofstra’s four runs in the fifth inning broke this game open. With Gianna Iaquinto on first, Alanna Morse moved her over to second base with a sacrifice bunt. Chelsea Villar came up clutch with an RBI single up the middle, scoring Iaquinto from third base, increasing the team’s lead to 3-1.
With runners on the corners and one out in the fifth inning, Chelsea Manto reached base safely on a fielding error by Seahawks shortstop Mary Sobataka, scoring Villar on the error. Olivia Malinowski’s two-out double to right center that scored both Manto and Kayla Wilson, increased the Pride’s lead to 6-1.
In the top of the fourth inning, Becca Vaillancourt singled up the middle as Morse came around to score to knot the game up at 1-1. With the bases loaded and one away, Malinowski walked, as Wilson crossed the plate to give Hofstra a 2-1 lead.
UNCW opened the scoring in this one with Morgan Britt hitting a double to left field, scoring Tayler Vitola from second. The Seahawks led 1-0 after three innings of play.
Julia Apsel started all three games of this series. In game three, Apsel fanned five Seahawks batters throughout five innings of work. Apsel also surrendered one run on five hits and two walks, earning her ninth win of the season as she improved to 9-5.
Anna Butler came in relief and fired two shutout innings for Hofstra.
Vaillancourt and Aliya Catanzarita both recorded multi-hit games, as they both went 2-4 at the plate. Malinowski went 1-4, but she knocked in three of the six runs scored for the Pride.
Vaillancourt raised her batting average to .373 after the three-game series. Vaillancourt went 8-12 with three RBIs and three runs scored in the series. Catanzarita went 6-10 with six RBIs and three runs scored in the series. Malinowski went 4-10 with three RBIs in the series, as three propelled Hofstra over UNCW in dominating fashion.
The Pride are back in action on Wednesday, April 3, at Rutgers University to take on the Scarlet Knights. The first pitch is set for 1 p.m.
Photo courtesy of Hofstra Athletics/Matteo Bracco
