Meghan Giordano’s walk-off single in the seventh inning put Hofstra softball over Towson University for a 9-8 victory on Saturday, April 20, at Bill Edwards Stadium.
While the Pride trailed for most of the day, they were able to fight back with five runs in the last two innings to eke out the win and move to 20-21 overall and 7-7 in Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) play.
“I’m thankful to win a game like that, where by all intents and purposes, we should have lost,” said Hofstra head coach Jay Miller. “Fortunately, we were able to come back.”
Towson jumped out to an early lead, as center fielder Nicole Stockinger hit a two-run homer in the top of the first, before Hofstra was able to respond in the bottom of the inning when Giordano hit an RBI double to cut the lead in half. But as would be the case all day, whenever Hofstra scored, Towson seemed to always answer, as they tacked on another run in the second on an RBI double by Madison Wilson.
Hofstra shortstop Kristin Hallam drove in two runs in the second inning when Hofstra went back in front 4-3. Hallam reached base three times and broke the Hofstra all-time single season stolen base record.
“[Hallam is] the catalyst for us. She’s the one that gets us started, and she’s a great base stealer, because she accelerates so quickly,” Miller said. “Of anybody we have on the team, she’s probably not our fastest player, but she gets from zero to full speed quicker than anybody.”
Giordano went 4-for-5 with four RBIs and designated hitter Alexis Goeke reached base all four times she stepped in the box.
“Giordano had a hell of a day,” Miller said. “Alexis Goeke had a great ballgame for us. [She] got on base every time, made things happen and when we needed it, really gave us a boost.”
The Tigers tacked on two runs in the fourth inning for a 5-4 lead following an error by Giordano as a line drive popped out of her glove.
Despite having runners on first and second with no one out in the bottom of the fourth, the Pride left on two of the 11 runners they left on base in the game. That, along with Madison Burns’ eight walks, leaves room for improvement.
“I thought that we didn’t do a very good job on the mound. [Burns] really struggled, had a tough time throwing strikes and when she did, they got hit hard,” Miller said. “It’s a tight zone and we’ve had this [umpire] before, and he’s really tight … It’s a function of the umpire’s zone, where you got an umpire that makes you throw it down a tube.”
Imani Myint threw out a runner at the plate to keep the Pride within two in the fifth. In the bottom of the inning, the Pride left the bases loaded, despite Tigers backup catcher Lindsey Toneygay dropping what should have been the third out on an easy popup. Riley Theis was taken out of the game with an undisclosed injury.
In the sixth, the Tigers extended their lead to 8-4, but Giordano crushed a two-run double off the wall in the bottom of the inning to make it 8-6 and was driven in herself when center fielder Courtney Scarpato hit the ball up the middle and Julia Smith-Harrington made an errant throw.
Burns held Towson scoreless in the seventh and Hofstra had one last chance in the bottom of the frame.
After Hallam and Collins both walked, Giordano finished off her outstanding day with a sharply-hit ball in between third and shortstop, making the Pride victorious.
The Pride closes out the series against Towson on Sunday, April 21, with a double header beginning at noon.
Image Courtesy of Hofstra Athletics
