On Sunday, Feb. 26, the Hofstra University softball team returned to the field for the final game of the University of Georgia Classic to face the California Baptist University (CBU) Lancers and won 6-5. This marked the Pride’s first win of the season, snapping a nine-game losing streak.
The first inning saw minimal action for either team. Nikki Mullen started as pitcher for the Pride and played the first two innings without giving up a run. Kayla Wilson scored the first run for the Pride in the bottom of the second. She singled out to the right field to take her spot at first. Wilson advanced home after Chelsea Manto singled through the left side, giving Hofstra a 1-0 lead.
Mullen kept the Pride in the lead as she allowed no hits in the top of the third inning. Hofstra recorded three runs in the bottom of the third. CBU changed out their pitcher before Hofstra was at bat, but the Pride started the bottom of the third strong. Meghan Giordano, Becca Vaillancourt and Aliya Catanzarita walked, loading the bases. Giordano attempted to go home, but she didn’t make it, giving Hofstra their second out. Angelina Ioppolo singled to center field, allowing Vaillancourt to record the second run of the morning. Alanna Morse singled up the middle as Catanzarita and Wilson returned home to give Hofstra a 4-0 lead.
In the top of the fourth inning, CBU’s Amanda Bricker doubled down the left-field line. Kayla Lyon followed up with a double to left field to send Bricker home, cutting the deficit to 4-1. The Pride recorded two hits in the bottom of the fourth, but their last two batters struck out swinging.
The Lancers scored two more runs in the top of the fifth inning to bring them one run behind the Pride. Valerie Alvarez singled to right field before she advanced to second base on a passed ball. Sydney Soto walked, giving CBU first and second. Alvarez scored after Karmyna Becerra singled to right center, and Soto advanced to third. Deja Westbrook grounded out to second, but Soto ran home to bring the Lancers within one of the Pride. Hofstra recorded no hits in the bottom of the fifth.
In the seventh inning, CBU tied up the game at four, courtesy of a run from Riley McDaniel to send the game into the eighth and final inning.
The Lancers started strong in the top of the eighth as they scored a run to give them the first lead of the game. Westbrook was placed on second base at the top of the inning and subsequently made the run home after Bricker singled to left field. Even though the Pride was down by one leading into the bottom of the eighth, that didn’t stop them as they rallied to get the win. Ioppolo singled to right field, allowing Gianna Iaquinto to run home for Hofstra’s fifth of the game. As the bases were loaded, Kasey Collins walked, allowing Wilson to get her third run of the game to give Hofstra the 6-5 win.
The Pride returns to the field on Friday, March 3, in a doubleheader against the Bethune-Cookman University Wildcats and the Central Michigan University Chippewas at the Spring Games in Tampa, Florida. The first pitch is scheduled for 10 a.m.
Photo Courtesy of Hofstra Athletics/Sidney Chansamone
