The Hofstra softball team took on and took down the Sharks of Long Island University (LIU) 9-1 in a five-inning run-rule victory. The Pride’s offense took advantage of LIU’s mistakes and used strong pitching to cruise to victory.
Despite falling behind early, the Pride used a five-run third inning to take complete control of the game. After Kasey Collins and Sam Ward reached base on back-to-back singles and Aliya Catanzarita reached on a walk, the bases were loaded for Angelina Ioppolo. Ioppolo hit a sharp ground ball that deflected off the second baseman and rolled into right field. LIU would then commit a second error on the play which allowed all three Hofstra baserunners to score.
Hofstra’s third inning assault was not done yet, as Madison McKevitt drove in Ioppolo on a double later in the inning. The fifth and final run of the inning was brought in on a single by center fielder Chelsea Manto. Manto wasn’t only contributing with a bat in her hands, but in the field as well.
In the top half of the third inning, Sharks outfielder Ryleigh Bermea sent a ball deep into the gap in right-center field which looked to be all but a certain extra-base hit. However, Manto made a brilliant play on the ball and delivered a perfect throw to second to beat Bermea.
Hofstra softball head coach Adrienne Clark spoke highly of Manto’s performance in the outfield.
“Chelsea had a great read on the ball but realized she wasn’t going to get there. But instead of overrunning it or misplaying it, she read it off the fence and was able to make a play on the ball, and that was really awesome to see,” Clark said.
After a red hot third inning, the Pride kept the fire burning in the fourth. With two outs and one on, Madison McKevitt added to the Pride’s lead with a long two-run home run over the right center field wall. The home run is McKevitt’s second in her Hofstra career and first of the season.
Coach Clark spoke positively about McKevitt’s performance, as well as her improved approach at the plate.
“She’s been working very hard on being patient but also being aggressive at hittable pitches, and to see her do it with two strikes is really incredible because that’s something she’s been focusing on a lot this season,” Clark said.
Needing only two runs to secure a run-rule victory, Hofstra was willing to pounce on the opportunity to end their final home game of the season in style. After Manto was walked, she quickly moved into scoring position after stealing her 17th base of the year.
Following a Collins RBI single that scored Manto, the Pride needed only one more run to seal the win with third baseman Ward coming up to the plate. With a 3-0 count, Ward was given the green light and placed a perfectly hit bloop single into shallow left field to give the Pride a commanding 9-1 victory.
Haley Venturini was the starter in the circle for Hofstra, as she recorded her seventh win for the season, moving her record to 7-8. In four innings of work, Venturini allowed one run on six hits. She also recorded four strikeouts in the victory. Annabella Pisapia pitched the fifth and final inning for the Pride and made quick work of the Sharks, retiring the side on just nine pitches.
The Pride move to 19-25 for the season, and the team finishes the year with a 9-6 record at Bill Edwards Stadium. They will now travel to Maryland to take on the Towson University Tigers in a three-game two-day series which will be their final series before the playoffs. They will open the series with a doubleheader against the Tigers on Friday, May 7.
Photo Courtesy of Hofstra Athletics
