In the second day of the I-75 Challenge on Saturday March 2, the Hofstra Pride softball team played Georgia Tech in a double header. The Pride dropped both games, 8-1 and 2-1 respectively, to go 1-3 so far in the tournament.

In game one, the Pride opened the game with a quick 1-2-3 inning.

Freshman, Mackenzie Suto got the ball for the Pride hoping to limit the Yellow Jackets’ offense.

Skye Webb put the Yellow Jackets on the board quickly, with a single down the left field line scoring Katie Krzus and Breanna Roper. Two batters later, Drew Puckett reached on a fielder’s choice to score Tricia Awald.

The Pride entered the second inning down by two runs. Hofstra threatened to score by getting Meghan Giordano in scoring position but could not get her across the plate.

In the bottom of the second inning, Suto allowed back-to-back solo home runs to the Yellow Jackets offense.

Again, the Pride offense got a runner in scoring position and this time got a run on the board. Kristin Hallam scored on a wild pitch, making it 5-1 in favor of Georgia Tech in the top of the third inning. Suto gave up another solo home run to left field, this time coming off the bat of Crosby Huckabay.

Two innings later, Huckabay took Suto deep again for a solo shot over the left field wall, giving Georgia Tech the 7-1 lead in the bottom of the sixth inning. A few batters later, another run scored for the Yellow Jackets as Puckett doubled down the right field line scoring Webb.

Suto, through six full innings of work, allowed eight runs on eight hits while striking out four batters. So far on the season, Suto is 2-4.

Hallam was the only Pride batter to hit for extra bases, with a double in the third inning, while six other players collected base hits during the game.

In game two, it was a pitchers’ duel between Madison Burns for the Pride and Naomi Dickerson for the Yellow Jackets.

The game remained scoreless until the bottom of the second inning, when Georgia Tech put two runs on the board.

Krzus hit into a fielder’s choice but Puckett and Stanford both scored off a fielding error by Hallam.

Those two runs proved to be the difference maker in the game, giving the Yellow Jackets the go-ahead run.

Hofstra came within one run of tying the game when Giordano hit a solo shot over the center field wall for her second home run of the season.

Hallam and Giordano helped the Pride with their offense as they both had two hits each during the game, with Giordano also had a double along with her homerun. Hallam also had a double on the day.

Despite having seven hits, the Pride could not generate the offense they needed to come back and defeat the Yellow Jackets.

Burns threw six full innings, giving up two unearned runs on just three hits while striking out three batters. Burns has yet to earn a win this season as she is 0-6 so far.

The Pride are back in action on Sunday March 3 for the final game of the I-75 challenge as they play Georgia State University at 9 a.m. 

Photo courtesy of Hofstra Athletics