Hofstra University softball pitcher Julia Apsel threw a complete game in the circle against the No. 15 University of Missouri Tigers on Tuesday, March 26, but frigid bats led to a 2-1 loss in nine innings. The Hofstra softball team put together four hits in the game en route to their fifth loss in their last six games.
The first run of the game came in the third inning when Maddie Gallagher singled up the middle to plate Alex Honnold for Mizzou. Apsel continued to throw a gem through seven, allowing just two hits in the remainder of the game. The only blemish from Apsel was allowing six walks.
“I’m speechless. She keeps getting better as the season rolls on,” said Hofstra softball head coach Adrienne Clark. “[Apsel] is fearless when manipulating her pitches, and it makes her difficult to hit.”
That sentiment held today as the Tigers could only scratch across two runs on four hits. Huge difference as the game before they scored 20 runs against Fordham University.
The lone run from the Pride game was off the bat of Becca Vaillancourt in the sixth inning when she hit a home run. Vaillancourt went yard for her team, leading for the fifth time this season.
“She’s been a game changer,” Clark said. “Getting players to step up and put the ball out of the park the way she has been is phenomenal. She’s always been capable of hitting for power, so it’s amazing to see all her hard work pay off.”
The Pride kept Apsel on the mound in the ninth inning when she gave up a lead-off walk. With two outs, the Tigers’ Stefania Abruscruto singled up the middle to bring the runner home from third.
That second run became enough for Missouri to clinch the game when reigning Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Week, Marissa McCann sent the Pride down 1-2-3 in the bottom of the ninth.
Despite the result, the Pride looked reminiscent of the team they were a season ago when they took home the Coastal Athletic Conference Softball Championship.
“I couldn’t be more proud of the way we played today,” Clark said. “This is the way we were meant to play all season. Now, we need to do it at a more consistent level.”
The Pride didn’t play again until Friday, March 29, when they took on the University of North Carolina at Wilmington (UNCW) Seahawks in a three-game series down south. The Pride defeated UNCW 9-5 in their only meeting last season.
Photo courtesy of Hofstra Athletics/Matteo Bracco
