After dropping the first game of their doubleheader, the Hofstra Pride softball team was able to secure a 9-3 victory over hosts Florida Atlantic University (FAU) in the FAU Strikeout Cancer Tournament.
Hofstra was slow to get on the scoreboard again, as the Owls quickly put up a run in the bottom of the second inning off an RBI single from Sara Berthiaume.
But the Owls’ lead was short-lived as the Pride battled back offensively in the third inning after not being able to plate a run for 18 straight innings.
Jordan Pietrzykoski started off the third inning for the Pride by reaching base on an error by Owls shortstop Gretchen Ebert. Pietrzykoski would advance to second off of a ground out by Caroline Kendrick before advancing to third off of a single from Chelsea Manto, who safely reached first on the play.
Kasey Collins finally broke the 1-0 Owls lead with a single to score Pietrzykoski.
With the bases loaded for Jaycee Ruberti, she singled to left-center field to score Manto and Collins.
Angelina Ioppolo tacked on two more runs with a crack of the bat as the Pride put up five runs on four hits in the third inning.
Madison Burns, who started the day in the circle for the Pride, would go into the bottom of the third inning with a 5-1 lead as she quickly shut down the Owls by getting three straight ground outs.
The Pride was not done yet, as they would add two more runs in the top of the fourth off of one hit and an error to go up 7-1.
The Owls threatened in the bottom of the sixth inning as Myah Murray singled with the bases loaded to plate one run for the Owls, which was followed up immediately with a sacrifice fly to centerfield from Claire Blount. The Owls could only score two runs on three hits and an error by the Pride, as they stranded two runners.
The Pride added two more additional insurance runs in the top of the seventh inning to put the game out of reach for the Owls.
Burns earned her first win of the season after tossing a complete game, allowing three runs on 10 hits and throwing three strikeouts through 32 batters faced.
Collins led the Pride with three hits and finished 3-for-7 on the day.
The Pride moves to 2-5 on the season and looks to build on today’s six-run win as they face the University of North Florida and Long Island University in day two of the tournament.
Photo Courtesy of Hofstra Athletics
