The Hofstra softball team kicked off Colonial Athletic Association play today by splitting a doubleheader against the College of Charleston, winning Game 1 3-0 and losing Game 2 4-3. Madison Burns and Mackenzie Suto got the starting nod in the circle, with Burns picking up the win in the first and Suto getting tagged with a no-decision in the latter game.
The Pride have now won 11 of their last 13 games despite their seven game win streak coming to an end in the second game of the double-header.
Keeping consistent with her recent play, Burns was dominant in Game 1. In her last eight appearances, she’s only allowed 12 earned runs – good for a 2.07 ERA in that span. While she wasn’t overwhelming batters with strikeouts, Burns kept the ball in the strike zone, only walking two batters. She was effective at keeping the Cougars out of scoring position, only letting runners reach second base three times and third base twice. And when the runners did reach scoring position, Burns held strong, not allowing a single hit in those situations.
Part of what made Hofstra so effective in those situations was their ability to get the double play. The Pride is the top team in the nation when it comes to forcing double plays, and they forced two today. This helped them stop potential rallies from the Tigers, effectively taking away any momentum they garnered.
Meghan Giordano and Courtney Scarpato were active for the Pride offense today. Scarpato, got the offense going early for the Pride, driving in Kristin Hallam with a single. Giordano capitalized later on in the inning, driving in Scarpato on a sacrifice fly. Giordano was able to improve on her three-hit day later in the fifth inning, once again driving in Scarpato with a single as the Pride kept Charleston off the board for the rest of the game to take a 3-0 victory.
In her start in Game 2, Suto struggled with her control. In 4.1 innings, she walked seven batters, the second highest amount of her season. Despite this, she was able to keep the Cougars in check until the fifth inning, only allowing one run. After allowing two of the first three batters of the inning to reach base, Suto was replaced in the circle with Scarpato. Scarpato allowed those two runs to score, along with one of her own. This allowed Charleston to erase Hofstra’s 3-1 lead, taking a 4-3 lead that they wouldn’t relinquish for the rest of the game.
Charleston’s four runs all came from different players, with Yari Felix, Jordan Barcus, Jenna Helberg and Dexlie Inman all crossing home plate for the Cougars.
Though the Pride still outhit the Cougars, 9-7, they were never able to string together an effective rally. They had the bases loaded twice in the game, only getting runs on a hit by pitch in both situations.
Hofstra will get one last chance against the Cougars, with the rubber match of the series on Sunday, March 24, at noon.
Image courtesy of Hofstra Athletics
