The Hofstra softball team rebounded from their loss to Seton Hall University with a victory over the Towson University Tigers on Friday, April 2 at the Tiger Softball Stadium in Towson, MD. The Pride picked up a 2-1 victory in their third Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) contest.
The Pride started things off hot, as Kristin Hallam got herself to first base in the game’s opening at-bat. Hallam stole second after a Chelsea Manto groundout, and she completed her trip around the bases when Jaycee Ruberti took the Pride’s second out of the first inning, a groundball to first.
The Tigers responded quickly in the bottom of the first inning, as Madison Wilson advanced to second base due to an error in left field after she got on first from a single. She made her way to third off a groundout and was brought home by a Chloe Poulich single to equalize the score.
An opportunity to retake the lead presented itself to the Pride in the following inning. A single from Hallam loaded the bases with two outs, but Alexa Corben tried her luck at reaching home where she was tagged by catcher Jess DaBreo to end the inning.
After three consecutive outs ended Towson’s second inning quickly, the Pride put together another strong inning in the third frame. Manto led off with a single, stole second and was then brought home by a double from Ruberti to regain the advantage for the Pride, 2-1. Continuing the trend of successfully stolen bases, Ruberti advanced to third but was called out at home on the next at-bat.
The Pride allowed just three hits for the remainder of the game following Manto’s lead-taking run. They successfully staved off a comeback in the bottom of the seventh, as Towson’s Poulich stepped up to the plate with two outs and runners on first and third. With the game hanging in the balance and Nicole Kidwiler in scoring position for the potentially tying run, Poulich grounded out to shortstop to let the Pride escape with the victory.
The game opened up the weekend series between the Pride and the Tigers. The victory brought Hofstra’s CAA record to 2-1 and gave them a 7-6 record overall. The teams will resume action on Saturday, April 3 for a doubleheader to wrap up the series.
Photo Courtesy of Adam Flash/The Hofstra Chronicle
