The Hofstra Pride softball team split a non-conference doubleheader on the road against The United States Military Academy (Army) on Wednesday, March 30, with a 6-4 victory in game one and a 6-1 defeat in game two. The Pride is now 9-17 this season.
In game one, the Pride managed to put up three runs in the first inning. Chelsea Manto started the inning off with an infield single. After Kasey Collins singled through the left side, Meghan Giordano came to the plate looking to continue Hofstra’s hot start. Giordano slashed an RBI single to center, driving in Manto for the 1-0 lead. Aliya Catanzarita kept things going with a hit through the left side, bringing Collins home to go up 2-0. Amanda Maffucci wrapped up the early scoring with a single to shortstop. The Pride finished the inning leading 3-0.
The Pride added another run in the second inning off of a single by Angelina Ioppolo through the left side, to go in front 4-0. After no action in the third inning, Army got on the board in the bottom of the fourth with Lauren Little reaching home plate to cut the deficit to three, 4-1. Hofstra responded well with two runs in the fifth inning, extending its lead to 6-1.
With the score still 6-1, Army had the opportunity to either go into extra innings or pull off a late rally for the victory. The Black Knights sure looked as though they were going to shock the Pride, scoring three runs to only trail by two. The Pride, however, hung on for the road win after a foul out to second base.
Haley Venturini got the start for Hofstra, pitching five innings and striking out seven batters with only three hits allowed. Venturini improved to a 5-5 record on the mound this season. Manto and Giordano led the way for the Pride with three hits on four at-bats each.
In game two, Army got off to an early lead, scoring three runs in the first inning. An RBI single through the left side by Little was the catalyst for two runs. Madi Gilmore singled to right-center, driving home Leila Hurst for a 3-0 advantage. Army extended its lead in the third inning with one run to go up 4-0.
In the fourth inning, Hofstra left two runners on base, missing the opportunity to cut into Army’s lead. The Black Knights continued to separate from the Pride with two runs scored in the sixth inning to lead 6-0. The seventh inning was much of the same for Hofstra. Despite the Pride being able to get on the board via a Manto single to shortstop, Hofstra was handily defeated by Army with an out at third base off a Gianna Iaquinto hit sealing the game.
Hofstra’s Julia Apsel pitched five innings and struck out three batters. Manto, Iaquinto and Maffucci each recorded two hits in the loss.
The Pride will now turn its attention back to Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) play, taking on the College of Charleston in a home doubleheader on Saturday, April 2. First pitch is set for 12 p.m. at Bill Edwards Stadium.
Photo courtesy of Ken Lanese/Hofstra Athletics
