Hofstra softball completed the sweep over Elon University on Sunday with an 8-2 victory in North Carolina to remain undefeated in conference play.
Brittany Allocca’s six-RBI game led the way, going 3-3 with two home runs and two walks. This marks her eighth multi-hit game this season and fifth multi-RBI performance.
She got going early, smashing a two-run shot to left centerfield in the top of the first inning, giving Hofstra an early 2-0 lead. The Pride never surrendered that lead.
The Phoenix added a run of their own in the home half of the opening frame, but Allocca responded with another run batted in on a base hit to score Michaela Transue.
Already with three RBI, she was not done. In the fourth inning, Allocca clobbered a three-run home run, pushing the Pride’s lead to 8-1. That blast was her fifth of the season, jumping her RBI total to 23, which each place second on the team behind Brielle Pietrafesa.
Nikki Michalowski also added to Allocca’s monster day, hitting a round-tripper of her own. In the third inning, she went deep to left field, knocking in two runs. Going 5-15, Michalowski homered once in each game this series. Coming into Elon, she had not taken one over the fence all year.
Pietrafesa exploded for a 4-4 day, including two runs, two doubles and a walk. She finished 7-11 in the series with four runs and three two-baggers.
Krisitn Hallam, Courtney Scarpato, Megan Patierno and Kaitlyne Musa all contributed one hit in the contest. Hallam and Scarpato added a run each.
The Pride rallied for 12 hits in all three games, outscoring the Phoenix 23-4 for the series.
Sarah Cornell picked up her 12th win, pitching four innings of one-run ball with two strikeouts. Cornell tossed 11 innings this weekend with just two runs allowed, which brings her season earned run average to 1.50 in 121 innings.
Sophie Dandola came in relief to throw the final three innings, earning her third save. The freshman allowed an unearned run on three hits and three punch-outs.
She tallied 10 innings in the series with one earned run. Her ERA now stands at 1.22 over 80.1 innings.
For Elon, Abby Barker dropped to 6-6 this season, allowing five runs over 2.1 innings on seven hits. Kenna Quinn relieved her, scattering three runs over 1.2 innings.
Elise Walton shut down the Pride in the last three innings, plating no runners despite issuing four walks and two hits.
On the offensive end, Hannah Olson finished 2-3 with one RBI, one run and one walk. Ally Repko had the other run batted in on a double in the seventh inning.
Kara Shutt, Erica Serafini, Walton and Katrina Martin added one hit each.
Hofstra (21-8. 6-0) will be back in action Wednesday April 4 for a doubleheader at home against Binghamton University slated for a 3 p.m. start.
