The Hofstra softball team won both games of their doubleheader against the Drexel University Dragons on Saturday, April 30, at Bill Edwards Stadium. The Pride now stands at 18-24 overall and 11-5 in Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) play, as they clinched a postseason berth with the victories. This is the fourth time this season that the Pride has swept a doubleheader.
Hofstra came out hot in game one, as centerfielder Chelsea Manto singled to third and then stole second out of the gate to lead off the first inning. She was followed up by second-basemen Kasey Collins who was hit by a pitch. Shortstop Megan Giordano launched a ball out of the stadium to drive in Manto and Collins and put the Pride up 3-0.
Drexel was quick to respond with an attack in the top of the third, as Dragons’ third-baseman Mia Garcia doubled to left-centerfield. She was followed up by a single from right fielder Sarah Clinton, which was mishandled by Hofstra’s Amanda Maffucci, resulting in a run scored and Clinton’s advancement to third, scoring Drexel’s first and only run of the game. Hofstra struck back in the bottom of the inning, scoring back-to-back runs. After Giordano was walked and Angelina Ioppolo was hit by a pitch, Sam Ward doubled to center field, scoring Giordano and moving Ioppolo to third. Designated player Aliya Catanzarita then flew out to center field to bring in Ioppolo and extend Hofstra’s lead to 5-1.
Following the third, both teams engaged in a defensive stalemate, with neither scoring another run for the rest of the game. The Pride’s Nikki Mullin (4-5) nabbed the win after allowing one run and six hits while Drexel’s Brooklyn Daly (10-8) took home the loss.
Game two was a sluggish affair, as both teams traded positions fruitlessly until Drexel broke the stalemate in the top of the fourth. Hofstra pitcher Annabella Pisipia recorded back-to-back walks, which set up Sarah Clinton to hit a single to center field and drive in Grace Abbonizio. Izzy Alamillio then singled to left and brought in Maddie Kapsimalis to extend the Dragons’ lead to 2-0. Pisipia was pulled from the game for reliever Haley Venturi, who shut down the Dragons’ scoring out of the bullpen. The Pride retaliated in the bottom of the frame with a run from Catanzarita off of a double from Madison McKevitt, but Drexel remained ahead 2-1.
The Pride finished off the Dragons in the bottom of the fifth, as they drove in four runs on three hits. Catcher Devyn Losco laid down a bunt and beat out the throw to make it to first before Manto singled to shortstop to advance Losco. Collins then took a pitch to the shoulder, loading the bases for Giordano at the plate. The senior slammed a shot that struck the right field fence for a single, scoring Losco and Manto. Ioppolo laid down a bunt to advance Giordano to second and allowed Collins to slide into home past Dragons’ catcher Savaanah Garcia to score. Giordano then came in to score on a fielder’s choice as Hofstra closed out the inning with a 5-2 lead.
For the remainder of the game, the Pride’s defense held Drexel to no hits and no runs scored. Venturi (6-8) recorded five strikeouts and three walks as she grabbed the win, and Lindsay Nelson (5-8) took the loss.
Hofstra first-year softball coach Adrianne Clark had much praise for her team, pinpointing her team’s offense as a key reason for the victories.
“What’s been really cool is they’re doing such a good job of picking each other up,” Clark said. “So, if someone struggled to get it done right that next time through the lineup, and you see the bottom of the order get it down, and I think it just speaks volumes to them working really hard to beat each other.”
When asked about the outstanding performance by Manto, who stole three bases on three attempts and went 5-8 at the plate in the two games, Clark had big praise for the centerfielder.
“That’s what’s so cool about [Manto], she is such a dynamic player,” Clark said. “Her speed’s been such a threat to any defense, and so her just putting the ball in play gives her an 80% chance that she’s going to be safe.”
The Pride will go for the sweep against Drexel on Sunday, May 1, during Senior Day at Bill Edwards Stadium. First pitch is set for 12 p.m.
Photo Courtesy of Hofstra Athletics
