Despite putting runs on the board for the first time in the series, the Hofstra University softball team could not avoid a series sweep as they lost 5-4 to the visiting Boston College Eagles on Sunday, March 12, at Bill Edwards Stadium. Hofstra was held without a run in the series before Sunday’s finale and was outscored 14-4 in the three games.
Boston College reliever Sofia Earle was credited with her second win of the season after pitching two innings while striking out one and giving up just one earned run on one hit. Abby Dunnings shut the door on the Pride in the seventh inning to earn her second save of the season for the Eagles. Hofstra reliever Annabella Pisapia was handed her second loss of the season, as the junior right-hander gave up two runs in two innings of work.
“I thought we competed hard,” said Hofstra head coach Adrienne Clark. “I thought we did a better job of coming out and scoring first. That was really awesome to see. We didn’t quite get it done when it counted, but I was really happy with the intent of how we showed up today.”
The Pride struck first in the contest. After Kasey Collins reached base on an error and Meghan Giordano drew a walk, Becca Vallaincourt drove a 2-1 pitch to right field for a two-run double in the bottom half of the first inning.
“I think that was the biggest focal point for us going into game three,” Clark said. “We had a lot of runners on base early in the series, and being able to get the team to understand that just because there are runners on base, it’s not additional pressure, is what we want.”
It didn’t take long for the Eagles to strike back. Nicole Giery led off the next half inning by driving the first pitch she saw from Pride starter Nikki Mullin to center field that was just out of reach of Chelsea Manto for a double. Giery later scored from third after Hofstra right fielder Madison McKevitt couldn’t make the play on a hard-hit ball off the bat of Maddy Carpe.
Boston College continued to add on in the next half-inning. After Hines scored on a fielder’s choice, Mullin surrendered a two-out walk to Erika Andal that gave the Eagles their first lead of the afternoon.
The Pride then evened the score in the bottom of the fourth inning. After Vaillancourt notched her second hit of the game, she scored from second base on a two-out single by Alanna Morse to tie the game at three.
“Vaillancourt did a phenomenal job,” Clark said. “After the first couple of games, we made a little tweak. She came out today and figured it out. It was really cool. It’s always fun when you can see players make the adjustments for themselves and the team.”
Not to be outdone, Giordano put her team ahead when she roped a line drive that Bill Edwards Stadium could not hold for her fifth home run of the season.
“It was really cool to see Megan get another home run today,” Clark said. “She does such an amazing job of being confident and having a calming presence. She works to play her game all the time, and it’s really a big bonus to have her on the team, in the lineup, with how she carries herself and the composure she plays with.”
Giordano’s bomb wasn’t enough, though, as the Eagles used the top of the sixth inning to win the game. Drawing three straight walks to begin the inning, the Eagles took the lead back for good when Hannah Slike drove in two runs with a single off of Haley Venturini.
With the loss, the Pride’s record falls to 5-13.
Hofstra returns to action on Saturday, March 18, in a doubleheader when they visit the Long Island rival of the Stony Brook University Seawolves. Game one begins at 1 p.m. with the second game scheduled for 3 p.m. Both games will be broadcast on FloSoftball.
Photo courtesy of Alexis Friedman/ The Hofstra Chronicle
