The Hofstra Pride softball team concluded their regular season by sweeping Towson University in a doubleheader on Sunday, May 8, at Tiger Softball Park.
The Pride closed out the regular season with a 21-25 overall record and finished 13-6 in Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) play. Towson finished 14-32 overall and 4-15 in CAA competition.
It was quiet for much game one, with each team failing to get on the scoreboard through the first four innings. In the fifth inning, Hofstra’s Chelsea Manto connected on a triple to left center, thus sending home Kayla Wilson for a 1-0 lead. Towson responded with a run of its own in the bottom frame, scoring off a single by Briana Ramirez as Cori Jones crossed home plate.
Sam Ward got on base early in the sixth inning with a single up the middle for the Pride. After Gianna Iaquinto entered to pinch run for Ward, Angelina Ioppolo was hit by a pitch to reach first base. An RBI single by Aliya Catanzarita brought Iaquinto home to retake the lead, 2-1.
Towson was unable to tie or take the lead, as Hofstra began the day with the close win. Five batters recorded a hit for the Pride. Haley Venturini pitched a complete game, going all seven innings and striking out seven batters. Venturini moved to 8-8 on the season.
In game two, Hofstra came out of the gates with a run scored after a sacrifice fly to center field by Ward. The Pride held a one-run lead until the third inning, where they added two more runs. One score came off an error by the Towson catcher, while the other came off a single to third base by Ward, driving home Kasey Collins for a 3-0 advantage.
Hofstra added on to its lead with another run in the fifth inning after Meghan Giordano grounded out to shortstop, allowing Manto to score. The Pride extended their lead once again in the sixth inning as Catanzarita led off with a double to center field. Later in the frame, a Devyn Losco single to left field brought Amanda Maffucci home to go ahead 5-0. On the next at-bat, Manto doubled to center field to send Losco home for a 6-0 lead.
It was more of the same for Hofstra in the seventh inning. Giordano started the frame with a double to right center and quickly advanced to third after a wild pitch. Ward came out to the plate and nailed a hit to center right to drive home Giordano for the run. The Pride were able to load the bases after a single by Ioppolo and a walk by Iaquinto. Maffucci then entered the plate and grounded out toward second base allowing Ward to cross home for an 8-0 lead.
Towson had one last chance to avoid a shutout in the bottom of the seventh as a single by Mackenzie Lake sent Lauren Civetti home for the score. Soon after, Chloe Poulich homered to left field for three runs, trailing 8-4. Hofstra closed out the game with a foul out to first base, sealing the conference sweep for the Pride.
Manto, Giordano, Ward, and Catanzarita each recorded two hits, with Ward also adding three RBIs. Annabella Pisapia got the win, pitching five innings and striking out three batters with only one hit allowed. With the win, Pisapia moves over .500 for the season with a 3-2 record.
Hofstra will now turn its attention to the 2022 CAA Championship Tournament on Thursday, May 2, as the No. 2 Pride will take on the No. 3 UNC-Wilmington. First pitch is set for 1:30 p.m. at Hunt Softball Park in Elon, North Carolina.
Photo Courtesy of Marc Levine/Hofstra Athletics
