The Hofstra University softball team closed out this past weekend by splitting their doubleheader against the Bucknell University Bison and the Fairleigh Dickinson University (FDU) Knights on Sunday, Feb. 25. Hofstra beat Bucknell 8-4 and lost to FDU 1-0, as the Pride currently sit at a 2-5 record.
Against Bucknell, the Pride got out to an early lead over the Bison, as they poured on three runs in the top of the first inning. Chelsea Manto reached base safely on an error by Bucknell’s third baseman, Noelle Gardon. With runners on the corners, Becca Vaillancourt laid down a bunt to the pitcher that scored Manto from third to give Hofstra a 1-0 lead. A sacrifice fly by Olivia Malinowski and a single off the bat of Alanna Morse gave the Pride an early 3-0 lead.
The bats stayed hot for Hofstra, as Vaillancourt homered to left field, knocking in Lily Yepez and increasing their lead to 5-1.
Three doubles in a row off the bats of Vaillancourt, Malinowski and Mackenzie Fitzgerald knocked in runs six, seven and eight in the top of the seventh to increase the Pride’s lead to 8-2.
It was all Hofstra in game one on Sunday afternoon, but that wasn’t the same for game two. While the Pride only lost by one run, FDU threatened to score in just about every inning.
FDU’s Brooklyn Shroyer kept the Hofstra hitters off balance all day, as she recorded 17 strikeouts. Shroyer tossed a complete game shutout and only allowed three hits and three walks, while 17 of the game’s 21 outs resulted in a strikeout. Shroyer also eclipsed the century mark on pitches thrown, notching 128 pitches.
FDU out-hit Hofstra 11 to three and only two players for the Pride recorded hits in this one. Manto went one-for-two at the plate with a walk and Yepez went two-for-three.
Marisa Ogden surrendered one run, 11 hits and three walks while striking out three over 6.1 innings of work. Anna Butler came in for relief in the seventh to get the last two outs.
Hayden Salter singled through the right side of the infield, scoring Riley Cunningham, which was enough to win the ballgame.
Annabella Pisapia tossed four innings, while only allowing one unearned run against Bucknell. Pisapia allowed four hits and one walk while striking out two Bison batters. Haley Venturini relieved Pisapia in the fifth and surrendered three earned runs on four hits and three walks throughout 2.2 innings pitched. Butler was credited with the one-out save, while Pisapia earned the win, as she earned her first win of the 2024 season.
The Pride has gotten most of their offensive production from the top of their lineup and the four, five and six hitters. The team lost some key players from a year ago, but a majority of the team is the same as it was last season when they went to the NCAA tournament. Before conference play last season, the Pride started 5-13 but still managed to win in the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA).
Hofstra takes a trip down south next week for the Longhorn Invitational, to take on Northwestern State University and Tarleton State University in another doubleheader on Friday, March 1. The first pitch against Northwestern State is set for 11 a.m., and the first pitch for game two against Tarleton State is set for 1:30 p.m.
Photo courtesy of Hofstra Athletics/Chris Henry
