The Hofstra University softball team split their doubleheader against the Towson University Tigers in the first Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) series of the year. Hofstra won the first game 8-1 but lost the second 6-1. Julia Apsel, the Pride’s ace, got the nod in game one, and Annabella Pisapia started game two.
It was an offensive explosion in game one as Hofstra tallied 10 hits in the win. In the first inning, Becca Vaillancourt mashed a two-run shot to left field to give the team an early 2-0 lead.
With a 3-1 lead in the top of the sixth, the Pride piled on insurance runs. Aliya Catanzarita started the inning with a four-pitch walk. With two outs in the inning, Alanna Morse singled to right field, scoring Kayla Wilson and Tyler Douglas. Chelsea Villar was involved in the hitting spree, as she singled to center field, Alanna Morse came around to score, and that gave Hofstra a 6-1 lead.
Game two didn’t go as well. Towson tacked on three runs early in the first. Mackenzie Lake doubled to left center to lead off the first. With outs and Towson threatening with runners on the corners, Cori Jones tripled to right center, scoring Lake and Elizabeth Yoskowitz. Cara Bohner then grounded out to Nicole Cancel at second base, which scored Jones from third.
The southpaw continues to dominate inside the circle for the Pride. Apsel allowed eight hits, one run and two walks, while fanning three over six innings of work for Hofstra in game one. Apsel’s ERA improved to 1.46, as she improved to a 2-3 record. Anna Butler relieved Apsel in the seventh, as she sat down the Tigers in order.
The struggles continued for the Hofstra rotation outside of Apsel. Pisapia’s day ended after 2.2 innings of work where she surrendered three runs on eight hits and two walks. Haley Venturini came in for Pisapia in the middle of the third inning, as she surrendered one run on one hit and one walk, in 1.1 innings of work. Venturini also struck out one Towson batter. Marisa Ogden got some work in this one, as she pitched two innings and allowed two runs on three hits and only one strikeout.
Chelsea Manto not only leads the Pride in batting average (.327), but she also etched her name in Hofstra softball history. Manto set the record for the most stolen bases in program history with 84.
While Manto leads the team in batting average, Vaillancourt isn’t far behind. The senior catcher is batting .325, with two long balls, seven RBIs and four runs scored. She’s been the hottest hitter at the dish for Hofstra through the first 14 games.
The Pride is back at it again on Sunday, March 10, for the rematch against Towson. The first pitch is set for 1 p.m., as these two teams close out the opening weekend of CAA play.
Photo courtesy of Aaron Meullion
