In the Hofstra softball team’s first game in the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Tournament, the Pride, who entered the CAA Tournament as the No. 2 seed, defeated the No. 3 seed Towson Tigers 9-4 in Virginia on Wednesday afternoon.
Hofstra’s ace Sarah Cornell took the mound. Cornell had a very strong outing, allowing only four runs on six hits and striking out three batters through 6.1 innings.
Towson opened the scoring in the top of the first inning as Kendyl Scott scored after two wild pitches by Cornell.
Hofstra quickly scored rapid fire in the bottom of the first inning, putting five runs on the board.
Kristin Hallam started off the inning by reaching first on an error. Shortly after, Hallam quickly advanced to second on a passed ball, followed by a Brielle Pietrafesa walk.
After Brittany Allocca fouled out with runners at first and second, Hallam and Pietrafesa both advanced on a wild pitch. Sarah Edwards then walked to load the bases for Courtney Scarpato and Scarpato walked to score Hallam.
The other runs quickly followed as Nikki Michalowski singled to third base, bringing Pietrafesa home just before Megan Patierno was hit by a pitch, allowing Edwards to score. Scarpato would then score after Kaitlyne Musa walked.
To end the high-scoring inning, in Hallam’s second at bat of the inning, she ripped a single up the middle and Patierno scored.
Towson later got on the board as Nicole Stockinger homered to left field in the top of the fourth.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, Hofstra answered back, tacking on two more runs. Michaela Transue started off the inning with a walk. Both Hallam and Allocca then singled to load the bases. An error by the pitcher then allowed both Transue and Hallam to score as Scarpato got on base.
In the bottom of sixth inning, the Pride scored their final two runs as Pietrafesa and Allocca both came across home plate following a couple of walks and pinch hits by Kimberly Wert and Alexis Goeke.
In the top of the seventh inning, the Tigers added two more runs, but it wasn’t enough to defeat the Pride.
Sophie Dandola entered the game for the Pride in the top of the seventh inning to get the final two outs of the game and earned the save after allowing just one run on one hit.
With the win, Hofstra advances and gets set to face No. 1 seed James Madison on Thursday, May 10. The first pitch is set for 12 p.m.
Image courtesy of Hofstra Athletics
