For the first time this season, the Hofstra Pride softball team swept both games of a doubleheader in Tampa, Florida on Saturday, March 4. On day two of the Spring Games, the Pride defeated both the Chanticleers of Coastal Carolina University 7-2 and the College of the Holy Cross Crusaders 3-2.
With these two wins, the Pride improves to 4-10 on the season. Coastal Carolina saw its two-game win streak come to an end and is now 15-3 on the year. Holy Cross falls to a record of 3-6 following the Crusaders’ start to the season.
Hofstra began the scoring in game one in the top of the third inning. It started with a one-out bunt single by senior Chelsea Manto, who then stole second base and advanced to third base on a throwing error by Chanticleer catcher Livi Payne. With a runner on third, Kasey Collins hit a double down the right field line to give the Pride a 1-0 lead. After Collins advanced to third base off a single by junior Kayla Wilson and Aliya Catanzarita getting hit by a pitch, Hofstra doubled its lead by way of fielder’s choice grounded in by Becca Vaillancourt, scoring Collins.
Meghan Giordano began the next inning with a walk before a pitching change by Coastal Carolina. The first batter that Coastal Carolina reliever Mady Volpe saw made it 3-0, as Angelina Ioppolo doubled to center field, scoring Giordano. Ioppolo then scored after a throwing error at third base allowed Manto to reach first. Manto stole second and then advanced to third base on a single by Collins. Manto then crossed home plate after a groundout by Wilson. A passed ball led Collins to come home for the score, making it 6-0 in Hofstra’s favor.
The Chanticleers got on the board in the bottom of the fifth inning, as Riley Zana hit a one-out home run to right center field, making it 6-1. Coastal Carolina doubled their run total in the bottom of the sixth inning after Keirstin Roose scored on a two-out single hit by Abbey Montoya.
Hofstra sealed the deal in the top of the seventh inning on a one-out single by Ioppolo that brought in Vaillancourt.
Game two at R.O.C. Park saw the Crusaders invade early. Jessica Mott singled on an 0-1 pitch, which was followed by a walk and a fielder’s choice. Megan Yurchick got the ball rolling, as she hit a single through the left side, scoring Bailey Bates. Holy Cross doubled the lead with the next at-bat, as Ali Sniegocki hit an RBI double to right field, bringing home Anna Brait. These, however, turned out to be the only two runs that Holy Cross could score on the day.
Hofstra had three separate one-run innings, the first being in the bottom of the third. Manto hit a one-out single and advanced to second on a throwing error. Collins was walked before Wilson reached on another error, allowing Manto to score unearned.
The game was tied 2-2 in the bottom of the fourth inning when Ioppolo was walked with two outs before Brianna Morse hit an RBI triple down the right field line on an 0-2 pitch.
The Pride then took the lead in the bottom of the sixth inning. With the bases loaded and two outs, Anna Butler came in to pinch hit for Manto and was hit by a pitch in a 1-2 count, scoring Vaillancourt.
In game one, Nikki Mullin got her second win of the season for Hofstra, improving her record to 2-4 on the season, going five innings and striking out one. Iyanla De Jesus was credited with the loss, her first of the season.
In game two, the Pride saw a strong duo performance from Emma Brennan, and the winning pitcher, Hailey Venturini, got her first win of the season.
The Pride has one more game to play before its home opener, as they will take on the Yale University Bulldogs at 9 a.m. in Tampa. The game will be streamed on FloSoftball.
Photo Courtesy of Hofstra Athletics/Stephen Galvin
