In the latest edition of the Long Island Rivalry, the Hofstra softball team split a doubleheader against Stony Brook University on Tuesday, April 6 at University Field. The Pride took the opening game 4-1 and fell in extra innings in game two 4-3.
Madison Burns took the mound in the opening game for Hofstra, pitching a complete game, tossing seven innings and allowing three hits and one run. Stony Brook’s lone run came in the opening frame after a Nicole McCarvill double.
Hofstra opened the scoring early after Chelsea Manto scored on a groundout by Meghan Giordano. McCarvill’s double in the bottom half of the inning tied the game at 1-1.
The Pride took the lead for good in the top of the third after a Jaycee Ruberti double scored Kristin Hallam. Giordano brought in an additional run to end the third, giving the Pride a 3-1 advantage.
Ruberti added another run in the fifth on a sacrifice fly, extending the Hofstra lead to 4-1.
Burns kept the Stony Brook hitters at bay, retiring 13 consecutive batters starting in the first inning and lasting to the sixth. Kaitlyn Riggs broke Burns’ streak with a single to lead off the sixth but was left stranded on third.
Three groundouts in the seventh shut the door on Stony Brook, handing the Pride the game one victory.
The Pride started strong in game two with Hallam scoring on an error in the opening inning. Hofstra added another run in the third with Ruberti scoring Manto on a single to centerfield.
After Devyn Losco’s double made it a 3-0 Pride lead in the sixth, Stony Brook broke through with runs in the bottom half to tie the game.
After recording the first out, a walk and back-to-back singles forced Hofstra pitcher Annabella Pisapia out of the game and brought Burns back into the circle with Hofstra holding a one-run lead.
Burns got the first batter to ground out but Julianna Sanzone broke through with a single tying the game at 3-3. After a quiet seventh, Hofstra failed to capitalize on a leadoff single in the eighth, allowing Lindsey Osmer to win it for the Seawolves in walk-off fashion.
Three Pride players recorded three hits on the day including Losco, Manto and Ruberti. The Pride went 7-for-7 on stolen bases, extending the team streak to 34 consecutive stolen bases. The Pride has stolen 67 bases this season and leads the nation in stolen bases per game.
With the split, the Pride moves to 11-7 on the season, winning 10 of the last 13 games. Stony Brook moves to 17-7 on the season.
Hofstra continues their road trip on Saturday, April 10 for a three-game set against the Drexel University Dragons. Saturday will be a doubleheader with the first game starting at noon.
Photo Courtesy of Hofstra Athletics
