Pitching continued to shine for the Hofstra softball team as they won their first two games at the Florida State Unconquered Invitational on Friday.
They started off the day beating previously undefeated Florida Gulf Coast University 2-1, giving the Eagles their first loss of the season. Hofstra then topped No. 13 Florida State 1-0 in extra innings. The Pride improved their record to 10-4 on the season with the two wins.
On the mound for the first game was freshman pitcher Sophie Dandola, who allowed three hits, no earned runs or walks and two strikeouts through seven solid innings of work.
The Eagles got on the board first, scoring their one and only run in the bottom of the third inning on an error.
Even with three hits in the fourth inning by FGCU escaped the inning not giving up a run. Imani Myint got her first collegiate hit in the fourth, with a bunt down the third base line.
The Pride offense came up big in the top of the fifth inning. Courtney Scarpato scored the first run for the Pride on a double to right center off the bat of Pietrafesa. Nikki Michalowski singled to shortstop and drove in Brittany Allocca for the go ahead run.
Hofstra is 5-0 on the season when Pietrafesa records a run batted in (RBI).
Sarah Cornell took the hill for the Pride in the second game and pitched a scoreless 8.1 innings, facing 31 batters and allowing four hits and two walks while striking out nine.
Dandola came into to relieve Cornell in the eighth inning with one out. Dandola pitched the rest of the game and earned the win for Hofstra, bumping her record up to 5-1. Through the 1.2 innings pitched she faced five batters, allowing one hit and no walks.
Brittany Allocca started the 10th inning off with a double to right center, and then was lifted for pinch-runner Jessie Joy. Brielle Pietrafesa laid down a sacrifice bunt back to the pitcher, moving Joy to third base. Sarah Edwards then lifted a sacrifice fly to center that allowed Joy to score.
This game was a pitchers’ duel and both Cornell and Dandola threw strong outings that kept Hofstra competitive in both games on Friday.
Hofstra has shut out their opponents six times this season. The Pride has also gone to six extra-inning games this season, winning five of them.
With this win over No.13 Florida State, this marks Hofstra head coach Larissa Anderson’s third victory over a ranked opponent since taking over as head coach.
Hofstra will take on No. 6 Oregon and Florida State to wrap up the Invitational on Sunday afternoon.
