On Tuesday, March 21, the Hofstra University softball team lost both halves of a doubleheader to the University of Virginia Cavaliers at Palmer Park in Charlottesville, VA, dropping the Pride’s record to 8-15 overall.
Angelina Ioppolo had Pride’s lone hit in Game 1 as Virginia freshman right-hander Eden Bigham went the distance throwing a complete game shutout while punching out nine Hofstra batters.
Virginia jumped ahead early in Game 1 as third baseman Sarah Coon belted her sixth home run of the season on a 3-2 pitch from Hofstra starter Hayley Venturini with one out in the first.
Later on in the fourth, left fielder Abby Weaver led off the inning for the Cavaliers. After a pair of sacrifice bunts from Leah Bogg and Gabby Baylog, Weaver came around to score to make it a 2-0 game, which held as the final score.
Venturini was handed the loss (3-4), giving up two runs on five hits with one strikeout and one free pass in four innings of work. Annabella Pissapia also pitched two innings in relief for the Pride.
Game 2 followed a similar script as the Cavaliers once again struck first in the opening frame. Jade Hylton led off the first inning with a single to right field and later scored the game’s first run on a base hit from Katie Goldberg.
The Pride got the run back in the top of the third. After Chelsea Manto singled to start the inning and advanced to second on a throwing error, she traded places with Ioppolo, who doubled to left center to tie the score at one apiece.
That was as close as Hofstra could get, though, as Virginia came out swinging in the next half inning. After giving up two base hits to begin the inning, Julia Apsel walked Tori Gilbert to load the bases for the Cavaliers. Two batters later, Baylog drove in a run on a fielder’s choice to take the lead back for Virginia, which was then stretched to 4-1 by the end of the inning.
Apsel failed to complete the inning and was handed the loss (2-4), surrendering all four Virginia runs on seven hits and three walks in 3.1 innings of work. Nikki Mullin pitched 2.2 innings in relief for Hofstra, while Jenny Bressler earned the win for Virginia and Savanah Hennley picked up the save.
The Pride will return to the field on Thursday, March 23, to face the University of Maryland-Baltimore County in Baltimore, MD. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.
Photo courtesy of UVA Athletics
